Acts 20: 7-12

7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Acts 20: 7-12

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Reading this story about Eutychus, you might think it’s funny because it’s xso relatable. Many of us could probably recount a time where we start to fall asleep during a sermon or when our pastors are talking for a very long time you start dozing off. We see that happening in today’s passage too. When the early Christians we’re breaking bread in the upper room, Paul is giving this lengthy talk and he goes on until midnight. We then read that Eutychus, who was sitting by the window, fell asleep then falls off the window which ended up as a tragic death. When he was brought back up to the room Paul was able to raise him and then he continued talking some more. 

Two things that stuck to me was how Paul was continuing the works of Jesus and how we as humans could fall asleep and not stay vigilant.

Paul is one of the only two people other than Jesus who was able to raise someone from the dead. The other one is Peter when he raised Tabitha in Acts 9. Leader John Lee the other day mentioned in his passage how the power of God was so great through Paul. And we see that today too how Paul was continuing the work of Jesus and how God was really using him and working through him to raise up God’s children when they have “fallen asleep.” I think it’s really amazing to see how faithful Paul was and how God is able to use him to do his work. 

We also see that even from way back then, early Christians were also faithful and gathering together to worship and break bread. They were prepared for it and even had lamps ready since they were together even late at night. But sometimes we fall away from our communities and fall asleep. And when we do so we miss seeing and hearing God’s works and it could result in us dying or maybe spiritual dying when we fall into a deep sleep and away from our faith. God is doing so many great things in our life and our world, but sometimes we fail to see that because we choose to be blind to it. We fall asleep and we don’t recognize how he is working in our lives. Today’s passage could serve as a reminder for us to always stay vigilant to our God and to keep continuing to listen to His word.