We’ve all heard the story of the young seminarian who fell asleep during a less than engaging chapel sermon and was awakened by a jab from a next seat buddy mischievously informing him with that he had been called on to pray. Though it’s just hearsay, I’m sure it’s happened somewhere—a speaker, locked behind the pulpit and droning on and on between points two and three, is hastily interrupted by a loudly issued, “Our Heavenly Father, we call on Thee today…” voiced by a lone student standing awkwardly in the crowd.
We laugh, but when Paul preached in Troas, the one who slipped to sleep didn’t stand up, he fell down—down three stories down and died. No one was to blame. Paul and company were on a good-bye tour, backtracking through Greek and Turkey, “speaking many words of encouragement to the people”(Acts 20:2). When he got to Troas, emphasis would be on the word “many,” for Paul wanted to make his last day last and “because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight”(Acts 20:7). Surely what Paul said wasn’t boring, and we know it was important, but after 11 pm, it’s hard to pay attention. “Seated in the 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 window and was picked up dead”(Acts 20:9)
You would think the gasps, distress, and rush downstairs would have ended the service, but, no, it was only interrupted, for Paul threw himself on the young man, put his arms around him, and declared, “Don’t be alarmed. He’s alive!” Then Paul headed back upstairs, had a snack, and talked on till daylight.
And you thought your preacher was long-winded!
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