November 19

Acts 20:1-12

1After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. 5 They went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas; 6 but we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days. 7 On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were meeting. 9 A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him." 11 Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left. 12 Meanwhile they had taken the boy away alive and were not a little comforted.

Despite the turmoil in Ephesus the missionary work of Paul and his associates goes on. Again we see the description go from third person to first person. The teller of the story is one of the eye witnesses to these events. From that we can deduce that Paul is not going around solo during these journeys. It is Paul and a group of disciples who visit and support the congregations of Macedonia and Greece.

Even as the church is becoming known outside the synagogue, the Jewish liturgical calendar is still referenced. There is no travel during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Paul is on the move, but with consideration to the religious calendar of those who are still on the fringe of the church.

The story of Eutychus is one of those interesting events that speak of the human frailties of the early church and the unforeseen consequences of our actions. Paul is preaching for a long time. A young man falls asleep and falls out of the window. The size of the crowd in the house had contributed to this event. The how of the restoring of life to this young man is left unanswered. Paul picks him up, declares that there is life in him and returns to dinner. The conversation continues and the boy is alive and taken away. There are many questions we might ask, but the point of the story is that Paul continues to share the gospel to the crowd even as this event is taking place.

Reflection questions
1. What is the role of the church community in sharing the gospel? Do we see this as a community activity or the work of certain individuals?
2. Paul’s single minded conviction to proclaim the gospel continues even in the turmoil of his world. How does the church stay focused on its mission with all of the turmoil around us?
3. What does the story of Eutychus say to you?