---

We have here religious institutions —

I. SANCTIONED BY CHRISTIANITY.

1. "The first day of the week." This is the first account we have of the observance of this day, and from that time to this it has been observed for religious purposes (1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10).

2. The Lord's Supper, which has also been observed ever since, and so has —

3. The preaching of the gospel.

II. INTRUDING ON THE CLAIMS OF NATURE. "Paul continued his speech until midnight." Night is the time for rest, not for labour; but many reasons would perhaps justify Paul. The people were ignorant, he had much to communicate, and had to depart on the morrow. Still, a result occurred which marked such long services as an evil. Religious institutions intrude on the claims of nature —

1. When they are employed for the purposes of inordinate excitement. Some so-called revivals furnish many sad examples.

2. When they are protracted beyond a certain period. Long sermons are a sin against nature.

III. ASSOCIATED WITH SUPERNATURAL POWER (ver. 10). This was an undoubted miracle, performed in somewhat She same manner as that in 2 Kings 4:33-35, and may be regarded as emblematical of the Divine power of restoration associated with the preaching of the gospel.

1. Man is the organ of it. God could have raised Eutychus directly, but He worked through Paul; so in quickening dead sinners now, He employs the ministry of the Word.

2. Man is the subject of it. Eutychus was raised.

(D. Thomas, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

WEB: We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.