Who was Eutychus in the Bible?

Eutychus is a figure mentioned only once in the Bible, in Acts 20:7-12. The passage reads:

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

So what can we glean about Eutychus from this passage?

• His name was Eutychus.
• He was present when Paul was preaching to a group of believers who had gathered together on the first day of the week (likely Sunday) to break bread, referring to sharing a meal and commemorating the Lord’s Supper.
• This gathering took place in an upper room of a building.
• Paul’s preaching went late into the night, past midnight.
• As Paul talked longer and longer, Eutychus became very sleepy.
• He was sitting on a window sill on the third story of the building.
• Eventually he fell into a deep sleep and fell out of the window and died.
• Paul went down, embraced him, and pronounced that his life was still in him.
• After going back upstairs, eating, and talking more until daybreak, Paul departed.
• The believers took Eutychus away alive, no longer dead.

So in summary, Eutychus was a young man who fell asleep during Paul’s exceptionally long preaching and fell to his death, only to be miraculously raised back to life by Paul.

From the context, we can deduce a few other details about Eutychus:

• He was likely a believer in Christ since he was gathered with others to break bread and hear Paul’s teaching.
• He was probably a youth or young man based on the description of him as a “young man.”
• The fact that he was sitting on the window sill suggests the room was crowded and he may have been forced to sit there by lack of space.
• His falling asleep does not necessarily indicate boredom with Paul’s preaching – it was simply an extremely long session late into the night and Eutychus succumbed to natural fatigue.
• Paul’s ability to raise Eutychus demonstrated Paul’s ministry was accompanied by the power of God, which included authority over death.
• The miracle reassured and comforted the believers present of God’s love and power.

So in summary, Eutychus provides us with an interesting account of a resurrection miracle performed by the apostle Paul as a sign of God’s power and care for His people. Though little is known about Eutychus himself, the story gives a glimpse into early Christian worship practices and the supernatural works God accomplished through those preaching the gospel like Paul.

Here are some other key questions to consider about Eutychus and what we can learn from his story in Acts 20:

Where was Paul when this incident occurred?

Verse 6 tells us Paul and his companions had sailed from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread and came to Troas within five days. Troas was an important Greek city located on the northwest coast of what is now Turkey. So Paul was traveling and ministering on his third missionary journey in the region around Troas when this event took place.

Why was Paul preaching so late?

Paul was leaving Troas the next day (v.7), so he seemed to want to spend as much time teaching the believers as he could before his departure. It was his last chance to instruct and encourage the church in Troas during this visit. Also, since Paul was leaving the next morning, the only time the church could gather to hear him preach and break bread was late that night.

What day did this gathering take place?

Verse 7 notes specifically it was the first day of the week. Based on the biblical pattern of counting days, this would have been Sunday night. So the events likely happened on what we know as Saturday evening.

What does this tell us about early Christian worship?

The reference to meeting on the first day of the week to break bread shows us that early Christians recognized Sunday as a special day of worship to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection. The practice of sharing a meal together, probably including communion, also points to key elements of the early church’s worship activities.

Why was Eutychus sitting on the window sill?

Likely because the room was crowded with people who had come to hear Paul. There was not enough room for everyone to sit at tables or on benches, so Eutychus had to take an open window spot.

Did Eutychus actually die?

Yes, the passage is clear he was dead after falling three stories. The believers confirmed this by taking him away alive after Paul embraced him and pronounced his life was in him again. So Eutychus was genuinely resurrected, not just healed of injuries.

Why did Luke include this account in Acts?

It shows Paul’s ministry was accompanied by God’s power. The resurrection served as a sign that Paul’s preaching was approved by God. It also encouraged the early church their faith would be accompanied by miracles, even raising the dead.

How might this story encourage us today?

It reminds us that God is powerful and can even reverse death if He chooses. It gives us hope in God’s ability to miraculously intervene, even in hopeless situations. Though miracles like Eutychus’ resurrection are rare today, God is the same and still able to work powerfully on behalf of His people.

In summary, the account of Eutychus, though brief, gives us valuable insights into early Christians worshiping on Sunday, gathering for preaching and communion, Paul’s commitment to teaching believers, and most dramatically, God’s power demonstrated through a resurrection miracle. His story continues to edify Christians today.

Other biblical figures who were raised from the dead

Eutychus’ resurrection is one of several similar miracles recorded in the Bible. Here are some other people who were raised to life:

• The widow’s son raised by Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24)
• The Shunammite’s son raised by Elisha (2 Kings 4:18-37)
• The man revived after touching Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20-21)
• Jairus’ daughter raised by Jesus (Luke 8:41-42, 49-56)
• The widow of Nain’s son raised by Jesus (Luke 7:11-16)
• Lazarus raised by Jesus (John 11)
• Dorcas raised by Peter (Acts 9:36-42)
• Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20)

In most of these cases, God used a prophet or apostle to miraculously bring someone back to life as a testimony to the power of God and authentication of their ministries. Eutychus’ resurrection places Paul’s ministry in this same category of supernatural works that pointed people to faith in the true God.

Lessons Christians can learn from Eutychus

Though we know few details about Eutychus himself, there are some lessons that emerge from his story:

• The danger of falling asleep during times of biblical teaching – We need to be alert and focused when God’s word is preached so that we don’t miss anything He wants to say to us.
• The blessings of fellowship – Like Eutychus, we are encouraged when we meet with other believers, even if only temporarily.
• The priority of the Lord’s Supper – Partaking of communion should be a regular part of our worship just as it was for early Christians.
• The power of God over death – As dramatic as Eutychus’ resurrection was, it demonstrates the enormity of God’s power over the grave.
• The comfort of the resurrection – The aftermath of this miracle reassured and comforted the grieving believers, just as Jesus’ resurrection does for all Christians.

Though mentioned only briefly, Eutychus will be forever remembered as a testimony to God’s power and care manifest through the ministries of leaders like Paul. His unique story encourages future generations of Christians even thousands of years later.

Eutychus in literature and art

Though not one of the most prominent biblical figures, Eutychus has been referenced or depicted occasionally in literature and art over the centuries. Here are a few examples:

• 17th century poet John Donne wrote a Latin epitaph for Eutychus that was translated to English by William Mason in the 18th century.
• 19th century novelist Charlotte Mary Yonge titled one of her books The Daisy Chain, or Aspirations after a metaphor inspired by Eutychus’ fall.
• American novelist Henry James alluded to Eutychus in his 1877 novel The American.
• A faded wall painting of Eutychus’ fall is located in the catacomb of San Gennaro in Naples, Italy dating to the 4th century AD.
• A medieval illuminated manuscript known as the Acts of Paul depicts Paul raising up Eutychus.
• Some artists such as Gustave Doré and Enrico Norelli have created paintings representing Eutychus’ fall from the window.

Though not a frequent subject of art and literature, Eutychus’ unusual story has intrigued some over the centuries to reference him in their works. This reflects his notoriety as an example of resurrection in the early church.

The significance of Eutychus’ name

Eutychus’ name in Greek means “fortunate” or “good fortune.” This meaning has intrigued Bible scholars, since it seems ironic for him to be called “lucky” when he fell to his death.

However, some propose that Eutychus lived up to his name, since he was fortunate to be raised from the dead by a merciful God. Others suggest the name implies he was fortunate to hear Paul’s preaching before he died. So Eutychus’ seemingly unfortunate death turned out for good, validating his name in an unexpected way.

Ultimately, the meaning of Eutychus’ name reinforces that God providentially worked out the details surrounding his resurrection for His glory. The name reminds us that what may seem unfortunate can be turned to blessing by our sovereign God.

Eutychus’ impact on Paul’s ministry

Though we don’t have many details about Eutychus himself, his resurrection certainly impacted Paul and his ministry in several ways:

• It validated Paul’s apostolic authority with a dramatic sign of God’s power.
• It encouraged the church their faith would be accompanied by God’s miraculous works.
• It reminded Paul that through faith, God could work even greater miracles than this.
• It likely emboldened Paul to continue preaching the gospel with confidence despite opposition.
• It provided a testimony Paul could share to demonstrate the genuineness of his ministry.
• It reassured Paul of God’s protection and care for His people.

So although the account is brief, Eutychus’ resurrection encouraged Paul and the early church during a challenging phase of missionary expansion in the Roman world.

Eutychus in biblical commentaries

Many biblical commentators throughout history have weighed in on the significance of Eutychus’ story in Acts 20:

• John Calvin called it “a strange and extraordinary miracle” and proof of a true apostle.
• Matthew Henry noted God allowed Eutychus’ death to show He has life and death in His hands.
• Charles Spurgeon said his fall was an instance of the danger of sleeping during sermons.
• Early church father John Chrysostom saw it as evidence that Paul equaled Elijah and Elisha in miracles.
• Modern commentator Craig Keener notes Eutychus’ resurrection parallels prophetic works pointing to the kingdom.

While commentators differ in emphasis, most concur Eutychus’ resurrection served as a dramatic confirmation of Paul’s apostolic ministry and God’s power to restore life.

Miscellaneous details about Eutychus worth noting

In conclusion, here are a few other miscellaneous details worth highlighting about Eutychus:

• He is the first person described as being raised from the dead on the Lord’s Day (Sunday).
• Luke is the only biblical author who mentions him.
• Some scholars believe the book of Acts was written in part to defend Paul during his imprisonment, so the story highlighted God’s power through Paul.
• Troas was a significant regional center where believers likely gathered from surrounding cities, meaning the miracle impacted more than just local believers there.
• The name Eutychus means “fortunate” whereas the names of other figures raised from the dead have different meanings, highlighting God’s providential working.

In summary, Eutychus provides a vivid, though brief, account of resurrection that has intrigued Bible students over the years and provided lessons and encouragement for the church down through history.