"THE BOOK OF ACTS"

An Eventful Sunday At Troas (20:7-12)

INTRODUCTION
  1. The city of Troas was an important seaport...
    1. Founded before 300 B.C. by Antigonus, a successor of Alexander the Great
    2. Located about 10 miles south of the city of Troy
    3. Made a Roman colony by the emperor Augustus (31 B.C. - 14 A.D.)
  2. Troas was visited several times during Paul's missionary journeys...
    1. On his second journey, where he was joined by Luke - Ac 16:8,11
    2. On his third journey, having left Ephesus - Ac 20:1; 2Co 2:12-13
    3. Again on his third journey, having left Philippi - Ac 20:6

[It was on Paul's third visit that Luke describes an eventful Sunday for the church at Troas. In Ac 20:7, we are first told about...]

  1. THE ASSEMBLY OF DISCIPLES
    1. ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK...
      1. Literally, "the first of the Sabbath (sabbaton)"
        1. Metaphorically, sabbaton denotes a period of seven days (week);
        2. As used in reference to Jesus' resurrection (cf. Sabbath w/ week) - Mt 28:1
      2. And so here, to refer to Sunday, the first day of the week
        1. The day of the week in which Jesus rose from the dead - ibid.
        2. The day of the week in which the church began - Ac 2:1-47
        3. The day of the week disciples were to lay by in store - 1Co 16:1-2
        4. The day which came to be known as "the Lord's day" - Re 1:10; cf. Didache 14:1
    2. TO BREAK BREAD...
      1. The reason they came together on the first day of the week
      2. To observe the Lord's Supper - Lk 22:19-20; Ac 2:42; 20:7; 1Co 10:16-17; 11:17-34
      3. A weekly practice continued by the early church - cf. Didache 14:1; Apology I, 67

      [Assembled on the day of the week precious to early Christians, to observe a memorial meal instituted by Jesus Himself, the disciples at Troas had a special treat on that day...]

  2. THE PREACHING OF PAUL
    1. THE SPEAKER...
      1. A special guest, along with eight other special guests - Ac 20:4-6
      2. A guest speaker, an apostle of Jesus Christ! - Ac 20:7
      3. Who had established and strengthened churches throughout the Mediterranean world
    2. THE SERMON...
      1. We are not told the subject matter, but from what we know of Paul...
        1. It could have been the gospel of Christ - cf. Ro 1:14-17
        2. It could have been exhortations to holy living - cf. 1Th 4:1-3
        3. It could have been encouragement to endure persecution - cf. Ac 14:21-22
      2. Whatever the subject, it was a long sermon
        1. He continued his message until midnight - Ac 20:7
        2. He later resumed and talked until daybreak - Ac 20:11
        3. Because he was departing the next day - Ac 20:7,11

        [What a privilege! To listen and learn from the apostle Paul! For those willing to stay all night, they also witnessed a special treat. What first may have appeared to be a tragedy, led to...]

  3. THE RAISING OF EUTYCHUS
    1. A SLEEPY YOUNG MAN...
      1. In an upper room with many lamps - Ac 20:8
      2. Sitting in a window, sinking into a deep sleep - Ac 20:9
      3. Overcome by sleep as Paul continued speaking; "on and on" (NIV) - Ac 20:9
      4. Perhaps having worked all day, the crowded room, the heat from the lamps - all contributing to his drowsiness
    2. A LUCKY YOUNG MAN...
      1. The name "Eutychus" means "fortunate, good luck"
      2. Overcome by sleep, he fell from the third story, and taken up dead - Ac 20:9
      3. Paul went down, fell on him, and embraced him - Ac 20:10; cf. 1Ki 17:21; 2Ki 4:34
      4. Paul then said "Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him." - Ac 20:10; cf. Mk 5:39
      5. Paul then broke bread and ate, talked until daybreak, and departed - Ac 20:11
        1. Was this the Lord's Supper? Or a common meal to refresh Paul before his journey?
        2. If Luke used Roman time (as many presume), it would have now been Monday
        3. "Here the compound "broke bread and ate," signifies an ordinary meal, not the Lord's Supper." - Longenecker, The Expositor's Bible Commentary: John and Acts
        4. "The second reference to 'breaking bread' seems to take that phrase beyond the Lord's Supper and describes what could well be called a midnight snack." - Gangel, Holman New Testament Commentary, Acts
      6. With the young man brought in alive, "they were not a little comforted" - Ac 20:12
        1. What an understatement! But that is what Luke literally wrote (NKJV, ESV)
        2. We would more likely say, "were greatly comforted" (HCSB, NASB)
CONCLUSION
  1. Truly an eventful Sunday for the disciples in Troas...!
    1. To observe the Lord's Supper, an important event for disciples every Sunday
    2. To hear "our beloved brother Paul" share "the wisdom given him" - cf. 2Pe 3:15
    3. To witness the raising of young Eutychus from the dead!
  2. What can we glean from this eventful Sunday in Troas...?
    1. What day the church assembled for worship, and for what reason - Ac 20:7
    2. A confirmation of Paul as a true apostle of Jesus Christ - Ac 20:8-12; cf. 2Co 12:12

And as Gangel put it: "Attend church regularly - especially on Sunday - and try not to fall asleep."