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Acts
  
7. The Night Sermon, and the Lord’s Supper at Troas (Acts 20:6-12)
6But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.7Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.8There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.9And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.10But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.”11Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.12And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.


The city of Troas, the cradle of Homer’s songs and of many Greek mythologies, had been the starting point for the evangelization of Europe by Paul and his co-workers. Following the uproar over the apostle in Ephesus, Paul came to Troas and planted there, in the name of Christ, a living church (2 Corinthians 2: 12). On his way back to Jerusalem he visited this city for the last time. Luke wrote that they needed five days and five nights to travel from Kavalla, the port of Philippi, to Troas, a distance for which they needed only two days for their first crossing from Asia to Europe. This indicates that during the last stage of Paul’s journey everything grew harder, more difficult and troublesome. Still, they endured everything with patience, hope, and growing power.
This meeting in Troas is the earliest reference to the Gentile believers’ practice of observing the first day of the week as the day of worship, and not the Jewish Sabbath. On this day they broke bread together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, as a remembrance of the death of their Lord until he comes. Christ’s resurrection, his presence in the mystery of the Supper, and his power in the Holy Spirit, were for the early Christians the foundations of their life of faith. Their thoughts centered around the living Lord, who heard their prayers, justified and sanctified them, interceded for them before God, and perfected them, so that they might be worthy to receive Him at his second coming, adorned with works originating in the Holy Spirit.
Paul preached a very long sermon. None of the hearers grew tired after twenty minutes. None of them said after one hour: “That’s enough! Let´s go home.” But the fire of the Holy Spirit stole from the apostle´s heart into their hearts, enlightening, reviving, and strengthening them. The many lamps burning in the upper room were a symbol of the many minds which were being enlightened by the Gospel. A great light radiated from those lamps, which shone brightly in the darkness.
The air grew smoky because of the many burning lamps. This caused the audience to relax and feel sleepy. A young man named Eutychus was sitting on the windowsill to breathe fresh air. It is probable that he had worked hard during the day and was tired. He wanted to hear Paul’s sermon, but his eyelids began closing little by little, until he, with head swaying, fell asleep. Then he leaned to the side and fell from the third story to the ground.
This reminds us of Jesus’ words: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” We confess that staying attentive and alert during the sermon and the reading of the Holy Bible is a difficult thing. Many who attend church are inclined to sleep because of the lengthy sermons. In spite of the completeness of the Gospel they fall into spiritual deadness in sin, pride, and superficiality.
The members of the church of Troas were shocked when the young man fell out the window. Paul, too, hurried down the stairs. He was dead, and his heart had stopped beating. The devil wished to mock the sermon about the One who had been raised from the dead by bringing about the death of one of its listeners. Paul was displeased at the devil’s success, and the Holy Spirit depicted to him how Elijah, the prophet and man of God, had stretched himself out three times on the widow´s dead son and brought him back to life through the prayer of faith (1 Kings 17: 17- 24). So Paul threw himself on the dead man before the whole fearful throng, not thrice, as Elijah had done, but once, in the name of Jesus. He embraced him, and the dead man breathed. His soul came back to him and he revived. Christ used Paul, as he had used Peter in Joppa, to raise the dead. Through these leaders of the apostles Christ realized the commandment He had given to his disciples in (Matthew 10: 7): “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
The raising of Eutychus in Troas took place so quickly that the multitude, which had come down from the upper room, saw the young man alive as soon as they reached the garden. Paul came to them and said: “Don’t worry! Go back to the upper room. Let us continue the sermon. The young man is still alive!” The apostle did not become proud as a result of this miracle, and Luke, the physician, wrote relatively little about it. Following the meeting the relatives of the young man accompanied him to Paul, so that he could thank the apostle for his life. Paul, however, turned all glory away from himself, and directed it to Jesus. He magnified his Master alone, the only One who can raise the dead, forgive sins, and cast out demons.
The triumph of Christ was the content of Paul’s sermon, which continued even till the breaking of day. He not only spoke, but also broke the sacred bread with the listening assembly. He shared with them the cup of salvation, so that they might become one, united members of the body of Christ, participating in the power of His life, sanctified by His precious blood. The dwelling of Christ in the hearts of believers, and the unity of His followers in His spiritual body, is the great mystery of the Christian church throughout the centuries.
Brother, are you sleepy and tired? Do you want to hear more about the word of Christ and be revived by the Gospel of salvation? The Savior has freed slaves from sin and death, so that they might accompany Him in His triumphal procession.

Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, we worship You, who brought dead people back to life through Your honored apostles. We long for You, and expectantly wait for Your coming, so that You may also raise us up by Your powerful word. You have made us one in Your spiritual body, and You are centered in our hearts through Your Holy Spirit. We thank You with all our hearts, and ask for Your blessings for the churches of the whole world.
Question
What is the significance of the Lord´s raising up the young man through Paul? Why was the Lord’s Supper celebrated on the first day of the week at Troas?