The account of the miraculous raising of Eutychus to life is a significant event in the ministry of the Apostle Paul, one of the foremost disciples of Jesus Christ. This miracle is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, specifically in Acts 20:7-12, and it serves as a testament to the power of God working through His chosen apostles to affirm the message of the Gospel.

Context and Setting

The event takes place during Paul's third missionary journey, as he travels through Macedonia and Greece, strengthening the early Christian communities. Paul arrives in Troas, where he stays for seven days. On the first day of the week, the believers gather to break bread, a practice that reflects the early Christian observance of the Lord's Supper and communal worship. The gathering occurs in an upper room, a common meeting place for early Christians.

The Incident

As Paul speaks to the assembly, he prolongs his message until midnight, eager to impart as much teaching as possible before his departure. The room is filled with many lamps, creating a warm but potentially stifling atmosphere. Among those present is a young man named Eutychus, who is seated in a window. Overcome by sleep, Eutychus falls from the third account to the ground below and is found dead.

The Miracle

In a moment that echoes the miracles of Jesus Himself, Paul descends to where Eutychus has fallen. Acts 20:10-12 records, "But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. 'Do not be alarmed,' he said, 'for his life is in him.' Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread and ate. And after speaking until daybreak, he departed. And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive."

Paul's actions mirror those of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, who also raised individuals from the dead through the power of God (1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:32-37). By embracing Eutychus and declaring his life restored, Paul demonstrates the continuation of divine power and authority granted to the apostles by Jesus Christ.

Significance

The raising of Eutychus serves multiple purposes within the narrative of Acts. It underscores the divine authority and authenticity of Paul's apostleship, affirming that the same Spirit who empowered Jesus and the prophets of old is at work in the early Church. This miracle also provides comfort and assurance to the believers in Troas, reinforcing their faith in the resurrection power of Christ.

Furthermore, the event highlights the dedication and fervor of the early Christian community, who gathered for extended periods to receive teaching and fellowship. It reflects the transformative impact of the Gospel, which not only brings spiritual renewal but also manifests in miraculous signs and wonders.

In summary, the raising of Eutychus is a profound demonstration of God's power working through His apostles, serving as a testament to the life-giving message of the Gospel and the hope of resurrection for all believers.Acts 20:9-12
And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
Nave's Topical Index

On the Words, and in one Holy Catholic Church, and in the ...
... secondly Prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts ... and power, through
our Lord Jesus Christ, with ... Menander's assertion that his disciples attain to ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xviii on the words.htm

Dialogue ii. --The Unconfounded.
... after the union, the nativity, the miracles, the passion ... but three natures of our
Saviour Jesus Christ may ... The Lord, indeed, while the disciples were still in ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/dialogue ii the unconfounded.htm

Are the miracles in the Bible to be taken literally? | GotQuestions.org

How can we discern counterfeit miracles? | GotQuestions.org

What are the greatest miracles in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus