Acts 20:7-12
https://www.biblestudytools.com/acts/passage/?q=acts+20:7-12
Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas
7 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. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 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. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
Study Note: This will be added as I am able.
20:8, 9 The "many lamps" were candles in lanterns. The combination of the heat from the candles and the gathered number of people in an upstairs room probably made the room very warm. This no doubt helped Eutychus fall asleep, as well as the fact that Paul spoke for a long time. Eutychus was probably somewhere in the range of 8-14 years old (the age of a "young man").
Thinking about the gift of life, what makes it so treasured that one would desire everlasting life? Like, with our nation, does it have a lifespan? Did it die? Or can we (with God's help from the Holy Spirit of Truth) pick it up and wrap our arms around it., and it be revived (like Paul did to Eutychus)? Yes, I choose life because it is the most treasured thing God gave me. He loved me enough to give me life on this day. He loves me enough to offer everlasting life to me through His Son. It is love that makes life (everlasting or this life) desirable. Would everlasting life be as attractive if it were not freely offered to all my loved ones? I dunno. (Yeah probably.) Thankfully, God offers it to all.
Heavenly Father, the Giver of Life and all that sustains it, thank You for my everlasting attitude that I can put on today. Thank You for loved ones in this world who offer kind words (even if those kind words follow harsh ones). Thank You for the ability to think through what matters reasonably and in truth. Guide us along the unique paths of righteousness that You have given each of us through the gift of Your Son--the omnipresent Way, the Truth, and the Everlasting Life. Forgive our sins as we grow in Your grace. Strengthen us through these trials as our character grows. Help us to love even those that seem to be unlovable--or at least help us start out by praying for them. Thank You for the prayers from others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
A Song: https://youtu.be/KaTKSQ1-fh8
Bonus Song: https://youtu.be/Jy6AOGRsR80
Have a blessed day.
“…He loved me enough to give me life on this day…” almost everyone takes this simple fact for granted- each breath we breathe is a gift! I thank God every morning for waking up. Thank you for your inspired words and faithful study.
If God did not exist, everlasting life would have no appeal to me. There are those who believe we are reincarnated to this world over and over and over until we finally learn something. What a horrible fate that would be! Aside from the bible telling us that 'it is appointed for a man to die once, then comes judgment,' (Hebrews 9:27) the idea of having to live dozens or hundreds of lives on this evil planet just makes me sick. Everlasting physical life like that has no appeal to me. And if we had everlasting spiritual life without God, what would be the point?
However, eternal life with God is something wonderful to contemplate. Despite my good imagination, I know it will be far better than anything I can think of.
Thanks, Q20191776 for your daily witness to the board.
How wonderfully stated gobby...God's everlasting love makes all the difference...and looking forward to our "home beyond the river" is the only thing that keeps me going....this was a great passage to remind us that life is the greatest gift that God has given us...