https://youtu.be/XBZGc-T8PFY

That sermon was a Snoozer!

Acts 20:1-12

Matt’s snoozer story

Luke narrates how Paul left Ephesus, having spent the best

part of three years there during his 3rd missionary expedition, and

then traveled place to place until his final destination, Jerusalem.

Paul now traveled through that area. He spent several months

revisiting the Macedonian churches he founded on his second missionary journey,

speaking many words of encouragement to them.

Paul arrives in Greece, were he stayed three months- where he

pays the Corinthian church a painful visit recorded in 2 Corinthians 2:1.

It was during this visit to the Corinthian church that Paul

wrote his letter to the Romans. (Isn’t the history of the Bible beautiful? How

it’s all woven together)

Paul continues his travels and is accompanied by several men

from different regions, Luke joins them perhaps in Phillipi- these men being

the fruit of his missionary efforts to various regions.

They spend a week in Troas where only one incident is

recorded- the dramatic sleep, fall, death and resuscitation of a young man

named Eutychus.

“On the first day of the week” v.7

Luke is following the Roman calendar- this day is Sunday and

is the earliest evidence we have for the Christian practice of gathering

together for worship

The purpose of their assembly was to  “break bread”, which was understood as the

Lord’s supper in the context of a fellowship meal, as in the upper room in

Jerusalem

Paul spoke to the people, and because he intended to leave

the following day, kept talking (prolonged his address) until midnight. The

meeting began at sunset, at the conclusion of their day’s work.

The meeting was held in a private house, upstairs, so that

the atmosphere became stuffy and oily from the many lamps.

Eutychus was seated on the window ledge- he is called a young

man, but in verse 12 the word is rendered “lad” or “boy” making him between the

age of 8-14, and he was gradually sinking into a deep sleep- Greek renders it,

“he was completely overcome by sleep” and so he falls from the 3rd

story and dies.

Paul suspends his sermon and rushes downstairs and like

Elijah with the son of the widow at Zarephath and Elisha with the son of the

Shunammite woman, Paul throws himself on the boy and brings him to life as if

this is no small thing…..

the crowd goes back upstairs, partakes of the Lord’s supper

and Paul continues his sermon until daylight.

What can we take away from this story?

Luke is describing to us what was going on- what the Bible

describes is not always what it prescribes

We do not have liberty to copy what took place- assembling in

a house on the 3rd story, meeting in the evening, using oil lamps

for light or listening to a lengthy sermon nor do we omit what this story

omits- speaking in tongues, prophecy, singing songs of praise or Scripture

reading.

People want a NT church- “they met in houses”, well then sell

all that you have and give to the church and we will divide it as we see

necessary.

But it does seem to appear that they met on the Lord’s day

for the Lord’s Supper and that this was a regularly schedule meeting and

practice in Troas.