My July 2010 team has been reading Scripture together for several months now…with the basic idea of reading a chapter a day and discussing our thoughts via our team blog. Just prior to the new year we wrapped up Mark, Luke & John. In January we started out with Acts and in a few short days we will head into Romans. Here are some thoughts from reading the other day in ACTS 20: 7-12. For whatever reason this story made me laugh out loud, gasp in unbelief, and wonder a few things. I find that fairly comical, my reaction to this chapter, that is, because I’ve read it at least a handful of times, but nevertheless it apparently hasn’t lost its effect. These are simply my commentary thoughts as I read:
“On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper (judging by what follows this statement, I’m guessing they didn’t just pass out crackers and small viles of grape juice, bless them, and call it good) . Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight (sure thing…I mean who wouldn’t preach all night long to people when you were leaving the next day?). The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps (sounds like perfect nap time lighting). As Paul spoke on and on (I wonder how people felt about this??) a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill (maybe to get a little air), became very drowsy (ut oh…apparently he didn’t get enough). Finally he fell sound asleep (probably the nap time light and preaching until all hours of the night) and dropped three stories to his death. (Oh my land! I had to stop here and re-read what was above. Did that serious just happen? Didn’t Eutychus’ buddies nudge him to wake up, or anyone notice he was snoozing? What about Paul? So…what exactly do people do when you’re being preached to, someone falls out a window and dies? Let’s read on…). Paul went down (I wonder if this was a smooth transition…or if Paul moved because he was the only one awake?) bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive”. Then they all went back upstairs (apparently people joined him in getting Eutychus), shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them (wow, do you think anyone teased Eutychus and refused to let him sit by the window again?) until dawn (waaaay past midnight) and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved (I’d say!)”.
I’ve truly enjoyed working through various books of the Bible with a team of brother and sisters and look forward to all the future truths and questions we will unpack together!
