Acts 20:7-12 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

Story of Eutychus. Paul speaks of the first day of the week in 1 Corinthians 16:2, but not of a breaking of bread on that day, which appears here as an established usage (cf. Acts 24:2). It is Paul's last interview with these people, and he makes the most of it. The lights may be mentioned because of the accusation in early days that the Lord's Supper was partaken of in darkness and was accompanied by excesses. Eutychus (Acts 20:9) is a common name. The treatment is like that by Elijah (1 Kings 17:21), but the incident may be quite natural: it is reported by an eyewitness. It does not interrupt the proceedings nor, except for a short time, Paul's preaching, which goes on till dawn, after the bread is broken.

Acts 20:7-12

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

9 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.

10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.