Miracle at Night

Acts 20:7-12 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.
 
 IT was Sunday, the first day of the week. Paul, his traveling companions and others in Troas met to break bread – celebrate the Lord’s Supper – to pray and to listen to gospel preaching. This is Sunday worship.
   The Lord’s Supper is a necessary mark of the church. It remembers the way the Lord Jesus began the New Testament of grace: Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”  Meeting on the first day of the week remembers the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Their meeting followed the pattern of the first church in Jerusalem: Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  The church’s worship was beautifully simple. The focus was Jesus’ commands, Jesus’ covenant, Jesus’ sacrifice, Jesus’ death and Jesus’ resurrection. Worship had moved from the Old Covenant’s 7th day of the week to the New Covenant’s first day of the week. This is The Lord’s Day. (Revelation 1:10)
   With many lamps burning and consuming oxygen, perhaps Eutychus wasn’t the only one who fell asleep as Paul talked on and on. Luke was a physician and a first-hand witness to this event, so we can trust his diagnosis Eutychus was dead. Paul’s prayer and actions for his life is similar to Elijah and Elisha. Both stretched their bodies over young men who had died as written in 1 Kings 17:21 and 2 Kings 4:34-35. Eutychus’ quick return to life may cause us to have little regard for the Lord’s resurrection power. But surely this is as great a miracle as Peter’s command, “Tabitha get up!” (Acts 9:40d). And it is as powerful as Jesus’ call, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43b)
   Paul seemed to take it in stride. This was God at work! He had full faith that the Lord would respond. Then they ate, and Paul continued preaching until daylight!
   We know, though, that when one prays the Lord responds in his will. Still there is an expectation the Lord will do what is right and good. We must humbly submit to God’s purpose. Each time we witness his power, we can be confident he is with us for our good and his glory.