Falling Asleep in a Sermon?

Acts 20:1-16

Journeys in Greece

1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Ministering at Troas

7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, "Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him." 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

From Troas to Miletus

13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.

Paul continued on throughout Greece in the face of opposition to the gospel words of this life after first encouraging the disciples where he left from at Ephesus.  More plots against his life were hatched by the disbelieving Jews but God warned him and he diverted from going to Syria and vectored him through Macedonia instead.  Other faithful men joined him as they all journeyed to Asia with the first stop at Troas where Paul preached a long sermon late into the night to mostly attentive ears.  One young man, Eutychus, fell asleep during the message around midnight as the sermon was winding down and he fell from the third story balcony apparently dead.  He likely was trying to listen but sleep overcame him in the warm room and late hour, so we should not assume he was bored or inattentive to hear God’s word.  Nonetheless, we should guard our minds and not let them wander while listening to the word of God lest we close our eyes and drop to the floor or simply begin to snore.  This does show there is a limit to how long a sermon should be to keep the attention of the listeners and also to understand that weariness overcomes us all if it goes too late into the night when we normally find ourselves asleep.  This young man was “taken up dead,” which we can safely understand as really having died and not just figuratively.  Otherwise, why would the account mention how Paul had to embrace him to bring Eutychus back to life and prove he was alive by showing how relived everyone was as seeing him after dinner again?  They then all continued talking until dawn most likely about the word of God, the Acts of the Spirit through Paul and his traveling companions, and probably about the wonder of seeing Eutychus alive after falling asleep and falling down to his death.  I would imagine that there may have been good-humored talk of paying attention in a sermon and not nodding off as well, but that is not recorded for us here.  The writer Luke and others then went from Troas to Miletus by ship to pick up Paul who went on foot likely to preach and teach any who he would come upon along the way to make the most of every opportunity to spread the gospel.  He got on at Assos and eventually ended up in Miletus after several stops as they skirted around Ephesus to avoid taking too much time there and missing Paul’s planned time to arrive in Jerusalem to celebrate the Day of Pentecost.  This account shows us how we should make the most of every moment to share the good news of salvation from God’s wrath on our sin and find peace with God in Him who died and rose again for us, even as we have appointments and commitments to fulfill.  This is in spite of adversity and even using difficulties to demonstrate the grace of God in Christ through word and deed along the journey to the Celestial City as in the Pilgrims Progress.  May we also not fall asleep in sermons, but strive to show grace to those who are weary and do that themselves as we take them up in our arms of love to help them along in their journey with us for the gospel’s sake.