The Midnight Miracle and the Miletus Meeting

Introduction

Part 1: Midnight Miracle (vv 7-12)

Scripture

Acts 20:7–12 NASB95

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.

Comfort through Presence:

The Presence of Paul

What Day is it?

The Lord’s Day

First clear reference of the church meeting on Sunday. We do know that by the end of the first century, the teaching (Didache) and practice of the church had Sunday as the primary day for worship, teaching, and gathering.

Various groups argue about what day we should worship the Lord on. I love this, because let’s look at the first church and when they gathered for worship.

Acts 2:42–47 NASB95

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Two Key words/phrases

Continually and Day by Day

The Sabbath Day

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Sabbath

SABBATH (שַׁבָּת, shabbath). A day of complete rest from secular work following six days of labor. Established and modeled by God.

A Day of Rest was ordered by God, 1 out of 7, which was traditionally Saturday. 6 days of work and 1 day of rest and reflection.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Introduction

The concept of the Sabbath was modified over time. In the Old Testament, Sabbath began as a holy day for God, which included cessation from secular work. During the Intertestamental period, the Sabbath gained a legalistic tone, and came to include detailed aspects of observance. During the New Testament era, Jesus addressed and clarified the meaning of the Sabbath.

While it makes sense that on our day of rest, we ought to spend MORE time to gather, focus on God, and worship, our biblical example is that worship is NOT Limited by days.

Many may argue that it is sinful to worship on Sunday. Really??? we worship on Sunday to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection .

The Lexham Bible Dictionary References in the Pentateuch

The Decalogue characterizes the Sabbath as a day that:

• is holy and blessed

• should be remembered and kept holy

• belongs to the Lord

• requires abstinence from work for all people (Jews and Gentiles alike) and animals

Special Days

Galatians 4:9–10 NASB95

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? You observe days and months and seasons and years.

Romans 14:5–6 NASB95

One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

Colossians 2:16 NASB95

Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—

Comfort Through Preaching: Paul gets carried away

Paul getting carried away

Midnight Meeting.

All-nighter

Sunday night meeting (all-nighter). Not likely normative. Likely because Paul was leaving the next day. He wanted to get as much encouragement out as possible.

Burning the Midnight Oil

To 'burn the midnight oil' is to work late into the night. Originally this was by the light of an oil lamp or candle. More recently, the phrase is used figuratively, alluding back its use before electric lighting. First seen in writing in 1635.

Paul may not have been preaching. It could have been that everyone was just so happy to see each other, they were hanging out and talking all through the night after dinner.

Word used implied a dialogue or discussion as opposed to a lecture or teaching.

Don’t we know that some of Jesus’ best teachings were in what appeared to be everyday conversations with people. Take every opportunity to allow conversation to become instructive.

Paul’s Conversation brought great comfort (comfort through words)

This wasn’t just Paul talking and talking just for his own sake, to be heard. When he left, they were “greatly (not a little) comforted”. It’s the same word the Bible uses to describe the Holy Spirit as our comforter. May our conversation bring comfort to to those who hear it.

Comfort Through Provision: Eutychus gets carried away

Breaking Bread and Love Feasts

Breaking bread (Likely communion) followed by the love feast.

Done on the first day of the week.

Love Feast, for many, was the best meal they ate all week.

New communion cups

Young Man Getting Carried Away

Young man

idiom: word implied a young man between 8 and 14. Sorry kids, it can get boring.

Lit room, lampstands. Possibly wanting to get some fresh air.

Large windows in this time were common. Possibly wooden shutters or drapes, but certainly no glass. The shutters would be open in fair weather.

Eutychus fell asleep. Not uncommon for teachers to through books and objects at students when they slept, as it was a great offense.

Literally, he was “Carried away by sleep”

Who has ever fallen asleep in church?

Luke is a witness. Not just relying on other’s testimonies, but he saw this miracle. Not sure the method of healing. Language seems to imply an Elisha/Elijah like laying across the body (1 Kings 17:17-24 and 2 Kings 4:32-37)

Mind you though, he was DEAD. Luke was a what? Yes, a doctor. So, the doctor is with and says the Eutychus dead.

Eutychus (good fortune, lukcy). Fortunate Paul was there.

Last example of resurrection recorded in the bible.

Most people, in this account, focus on God using Paul to bring someone back from the dead. Maybe what’s more surprising is that after Paul is part of a healing miracle, he just goes back upstairs and keeps on preaching util daybreak.

A bigger problem

Some may be upset or criticize others for falling asleep in church. I’m more worried about people who seem awake, but are really sleeping on the inside.

Part 2: Road the Miletus (vv 13-16)

Scripture

Acts 20:13–16 NASB95

But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go by land. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. Sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos; and the day following we came to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Paul ditches his friends

We don’t know why Paul didn’t travel by ship. Could have been bad weather. It’s no small distance, but about 20 miles. After staying up all night, I don’t feel like walking 20 miles.