Acts 20

Sleepy-Head

As Paul discoursed yet longer, being borne down by his sleep Eutychus fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead. Acts 20:9.

Of all the meetings mentioned in the Acts, I think this one held at Troas and addressed by Paul is one of the most interesting. What gives it a very special interest is the fact that a boy was there who was very like some of the boys who come to church here every Sunday morning.

Try to imagine yourselves at Troas. It was a city on the shores of the Hellespont, and in the midst of the tract of country where Troy once stood. Here Homer's famous heroes lived long, long ago; and here also, in New Testament times, Paul preached some of his wonderful sermons. You sometimes go away from church saying “What a long sermon!” But what would you say to a meeting that went on till past midnight and was followed by another that did not break up till daylight was shining in at the windows.

I don't believe that the people who were listening to Paul ever grew tired; they were so interested in what the great apostle was saying. The sermons he preached were always about Jesus Christ, and what He had said when on earth; and already it had begun to dawn upon many people that through Christ's life on earth a great change was going to be wrought upon the whole world. No wonder they listened.

Some of them had brought their young friends to the meeting. One of these was a boy called Eutychus. He had looked out for a seat at the open window, for there was a great crowd. There were many lights, we are told; that, of course, on a warm April night would make the room very close. In spite of his being seated where he was, Eutychus became drowsy. The friend who had brought him to the meeting must have wanted to nudge him when he began to nod. Suddenly poor Eutychus swayed backwards, overbalanced, and fell into the street below. There was a great cry raised, and the sermon came to an abrupt conclusion. Paul and many of the people went down at once to find out how it fared with him Eutychus seemed beyond human aid. “Poor boy, poor boy,” the women lamented. But Paul knew better. “Do not distress yourselves,” he said, taking Eutychus in his arms, “for his life is in him.”

The meeting was resumed, and the company joined in partaking of the Lord's Supper. It must have been very solemn. When daybreak came, the meeting was still going on; then, we are told, they brought the boy alive and were not a little comforted. Eutychus would never forget that early April morning; and he would remember Paul's kindness best of all.

We cannot altogether blame Eutychus for falling asleep; besides being in a close room, he may have done a hard day's work before going to the meeting. I believe Luke has given us the story because of Paul's tact, and his wonderful power over Eutychus, who, if not dead, must certainly have been very near it. But we cannot help saying to ourselves, “What a pity for a young boy to sleep through such a meeting!”

You know how some people go through the world paying little or no attention to the great things going on around them. You don't want to be like them, do you? There is a text which fits the present time very well, “It is high time to awake out of sleep.” We want you all to be eager men and women, listening to the voice of God as it speaks in the great changes that are being wrought in our country today. When such things are going on don't allow yourselves to be sleepyheads.