I’ve read this passage so many times but this morning as I was reading it I noticed some brilliant parts to it that I haven’t spotted for.

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted. Acts 20:7-12 (NIV)

Usually when I have read this or taught on it I focus on how this boy was raised from the dead – quite rightly!!! However I was reading this morning I started to giggle when I thought about how committed Paul was to his message and how like commentates on the whole thing.

He describes how Paul was talking until midnight. I’m not sure when the meeting started but we hear the young boy falls into a deep sleep as Paul was going ‘on and on’ – what a brilliant description! I’m not sure I would be too pleased to hear my teaching described as that. What I love even more was even though this incident had happened and a miracle occurred Paul was committed to getting his talk done and ended up talking to daylight! Brilliant.

I must remind people of this the next time one of them looks at their watch in a service!!!!!!