I Appeal To Caesar!

The tragedy occurred at a Sunday religious setting, just past midnight; the guest speaker was Paul of Tarsus, and people from the various house churches had gathered for communion together and to hear Paul preach before he went on his way to Jerusalem. Planning to leave the next day, and having much to say, Paul spoke past midnight.

“Many flickering lamps burned in the upstairs chamber where we were meeting. Sitting in an open window listening was a young man [eight to fourteen years] named Eutychus. As Paul’s sermon dragged on, Eutychus became drowsy and fell into a deep slumber. Sound asleep, he fell three stories to his death below,” Acts 20:8-10, The Passion Translation.

Mother had warned her son about sitting in the open, third-story window. The warm atmosphere and burning lamps made many drowsy, and Eutychus could not withstand the overwhelming urge: he sank into a deep, sound sleep in the open window! Mother and friends rush for the stairs, hastening to see if the boy had survived. Eutychus, however, did die from the fall. As Paul descended to the scene, following the crowd, the sound of weeping, prayers and condolences filled the atmosphere. A great lamentation erupted, casting a pall of death over the spiritual purpose of this important meeting. Paul with an intensity of faith born of the Holy Spirit and personal determination threw his body upon the expired boy.