Acts 20:7-10 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples As was usual with them on that day; came together From different parts; to break bread That is, to celebrate the Lord's supper. It is well known the primitive Christians administered the eucharist every Lord's day, and as that was the most solemn and appropriate, as well as the concluding act of their worship, it is no wonder that it should be mentioned as the end of their assembling. Paul preached unto them With great fervency, being now to take his leave of them, and depart on the morrow And his heart was so enlarged in love to his hearers, and concern for their salvation, that he continued his speech until midnight Through uncommon fervour of spirit. And there were many lights Or lamps; in the upper chamber where they were assembled For, whatever the malice of their enemies might insinuate, the Christians held not their assemblies in darkness, but took all prudent precautions to avoid every circumstance that might incur censure, or even suspicion. And there sat in a window Kept open to prevent heat, both from the lamps and the number of people; a young man, named Eutychus, who, having fallen into a deep sleep, as Paul was long preaching, fell down from the third loft And no wonder, if, like the eastern windows, described by Chardin, this was very large, and even with the floor; and was taken up dead Really and properly so; and (the whole assembly, doubtless, being thrown into disorder) Paul Breaking off his discourse; went down and fell on him It is observable, our Lord never used this gesture, but Elijah and Elisha did, as well as Paul; and embracing high In his arms; said, Trouble not yourselves Be not in any disorder about it; for his life is in him He is come to life again. Paul, doubtless, restored him to life by a miracle. When he therefore was come up again Into the chamber where the assembly met; (for, having composed and quieted their minds, he returned to his work;) and had broken bread And conversed a considerable time; even till break of day, he departed From Troas, without taking any rest at all. And they brought the young man alive And well into the room; and were not a little comforted At so happy an event; and the rather, as they might apprehend that some reproach would have been occasioned by his death, if he had not been so recovered, because it happened in a Christian assembly, which had been protracted so long beyond the usual bounds of time, on this extraordinary occasion. But, alas! how many of those that have allowed themselves to sleep under sermons, or, as it were, to dream awake, have perished for ever, with the neglected sound of the gospel in their ears; have slept the sleep of eternal death, and are fallen to rise no more!