From: June 30, 2024
“Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight… he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed” (Acts 20:7, 11 ESV).
The disciples in the city of Troas gathered on a Sunday to hear the apostle Paul preach. They couldn’t get enough of the church-planting apostle’s words, so they sat listening to him all day, even until midnight. What a great Sunday service this must’ve been.
Unfortunately, a young man named Eutychus fell asleep during the sermon and fell out the window of the third story upper room where they were meeting. The fall killed him, but Paul rushed downstairs and raised him up to life again. Then they returned to the upper room where they took the Lord’s Supper and listened to Paul until daybreak.
Can you imagine the way those who were gathered together that day to hear Paul’s final sermon in Troas talked about it later in life? For this was the last time they would see Paul. Surely years later, they would say, “Remember that time we attended an all-night service listening to the apostle Paul?” And others would reply, “We wish we could’ve been there!”
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are so distracted and limited in our attention spans that we can hardly sit still for more than a moment. How we long for a time when we might sit and hear Your Word preached and pray with one another without consideration of time. Give us strength and stamina to stay our minds on You and on Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 30, 2023
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24 NLT).
The apostle Paul reminded his friends from Ephesus of the calling he had on his life from Jesus. Even though he knew that suffering and jail awaited him, he was determined to fulfill his life’s purpose of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful grace. Protecting his life was not his primary concern. Preaching the gospel was. Finishing the work that Jesus had assigned to him was what gave his life meaning and worth.
Have you learned to find your self worth in Jesus? What work has Jesus assigned to you? His assignments to us are as various as our spiritual gifting, but they all have one thing in common–– giving testimony of the gospel of God’s grace!
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that You not only called us to Yourself in Christ Jesus, but You called us to one another and to the nations. Help us to find our life’s purpose and self-worth in doing the work Christ has assigned to each of us. Whatever our calling, help us to always have the Good News of God’s wonderful grace on our lips. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 30, 2022
THE HISTORICAL PRECISION OF LUKE
Paul’s missionary companion, Luke, rejoined Paul at Philippi. Luke was a physician, missionary and the author of the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. His presence, while not specifically named, is seen by a reappearance of the word, “we,” a second person plural unused since Acts 16.
Like John in his gospel, Luke doesn’t name himself, but does note when he is present in the story. Notice the detail that Luke gives. What time of the year? “After the Passover.” Where? “Philippi in Macedonia.” Destination? “Troas” (The ruins of”Troas” also called “Troy” are on the coast of modern day Turkey). How long? “Five days” on the ship and “a week” in Troas.
Apparently, Luke had remained at Philippi in the house of Lydia (See Acts 16:12), since they had first passed through the region. Why he remained there is not known. At any rate, Luke rejoined Paul at Philippi and continued with his precise historical record.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the careful writings of Luke and all of the Scriptures that You have given us. For in them we have found the words of life. Strengthen us this day by Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 30, 2016
Have you ever fallen asleep during a sermon? Eutychus did and it nearly cost him his life. Fortunately for him, the Word came to him a second time and he awoke from the dead. Whether it was Paul’s overlong preaching, for he preached “even till daybreak,” or it was Eutychus’ lack of receptivity remains unclear. But one thing appears certain. Eutychus stayed awake for the rest of Paul’s sermon. 🙂
From: June 30, 2015
Have you ever fallen asleep during a sermon? Eutychus did and it nearly cost him his life. Fortunately for him, the Word came to him a second time and he awoke from the dead. Whether it was Paul’s overlong preaching, for he preached “even till daybreak,” or it was Eutychus’ lack of receptivity remains unclear. But one thing appears certain. Eutychus stayed awake for the rest of Paul’s sermon.