Eutychus

 

Seated in the window was a young man named Eutychus,

who was falling asleep while Paul talked on and on…

Acts 20:9

Paul had so much too say to his audiences, and so little time to say it, that he often talked for many, many hours at a time.  He obviously must have been a terrific speaker with a passionate message, for his audience stayed awake and responsive – all of them except Eutychus.

Eutychus was a young man of Troas who was in sitting in the open third floor window of the building where Paul was speaking.  He started his discourse after the breaking of bread (lunch time) and continued throughout the day.  Around midnight, Eutychus, who was sound asleep, fell out of the window and died on impact.

Paul went down, put his arms around the young man, and brought him back to life.  Then, as though this was a common occurrence, Paul went back upstairs, again broke bread, then continued talking until daybreak!  What an astounding experience for the believers, and what a story for Eutychus to tell some day to his grandchildren!