I love the story of
Eutychus told in Acts 20:7-12. Picture the scene: an upper room full of people;
the breaking of bread and Paul speaking late into the night. It must have been
pretty warm and stuffy, with the press of people and the heat of the many lamps.
Eutychus seeks relief from the oppressive conditions by perching on the window
sill. But by now midnight has passed and Paul, who is keen to make the most of
his last few hours at Troas, keeps on talking – on and on and on. What happens
next looks like something out of Buster Keaton or Tom and Jerry: Eutychus
dozes off and falls out of the window, hitting the ground three stories below
with a sickening thud. In a silent movie or in a cartoon Eutychus would have
immediately leapt to his feet, but this was real life and the unfortunate man
was lying dead in the street. We are not told what Paul was saying at that
particular moment, but surely much of his talk would have referred to the death
and resurrection of Jesus and of the gift of eternal life. What better visual
aid could Paul have than a real-life resurrection slap-bang in the middle of
his sermon? We read in verse 11 that after raising Eutychus from the dead Paul
carried on talking until daylight – no doubt to an especially rapt and
receptive audience (and one doubly inspired to stay awake). When we share our
faith we have the power of the Holy Spirit and we have Jesus as example and
saviour. However we should not forget that we also have God Himself influencing
the situation – sometimes overtly (as in this case) and sometimes more subtly -
perhaps in ways we will never know.
(member of the
congregation)