7. “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”
The reason for the disciples’ gathering was to remember the blessed Saviour in death. Let us never forget the chief reason for our coming together: “This do in remembrance of Me.”
It is important to see that the “apostles’ doctrine” is intimately connected with the remembrance of the Lord. We must follow the apostles’ teachings if we are to remember Him in spirit and in truth.
8. “And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.”
Where Christians are truly gathered by the Spirit of God in love for Christ and moral separation from this world, there will be many lights of testimony shining. The many lights were there because they were gathered together in unity. May our testimony in the moral night of this present evil world ever be love, separation from evil and unity as members of His body.
9. “And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.”
Dear Eutychus was fortunate (the meaning of his name) to be found gathered with his dear brethren. But something caused him to become bored with his privileged and elevated position a window. How many windows exist among Christians today!
A window lets us see things in this world. We have many kinds of them. Today some windows are electronic, some are paper and others are windows for our ears some windows can be found in our homes, others in public places. What we see (and hear) through those windows determines whether we morally fall asleep and down to the level of the world we have been viewing, or remain awake to what we read and hear from the Word of God.
Eutychus heard the Apostle, but he saw the world, and the result was first sleep, then a fall, and then death. May those who are so fortunate believers gathered to the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ be careful what they view through windows.
10. “And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.”
What do we do when a brother or sister in Christ, fallen under the world’s influence, fallen through the world’s opening, and fallen down to the world’s level, no longer exhibits divine life?
Let’s do what the beloved Apostle Paul did! (1) He interested himself in the plight of a believer. (2) He went where the morally dead believer lay. (3) He identified with him. (4) He embraced (“enfolding him in his arms”; JND) the fallen. (5) He comforted the brethren by his words and actions.
11. “When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.”
Paul didn’t stay on the world’s level. A shepherd who goes after a wandering, sick sheep of Christ does not continue to stay there. After shepherding Eutychus, Paul separates from the level of the world, remembers the Lord in His death, enjoys fellowship with those gathered in the upper room, and ministers to them until the “break of day.” Believers can enjoy this same kind of wonderful fellowship and ministry until the Lord comes. Do we desire it?
12. “And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.”
The Apostle did not bring the young man back to the upper room. He left that to the responsibility of those locally gathered there. Are we exercised to bring back to the bosom of the assembly one who has fallen asleep and fallen into the world?
They did not stay with Eutychus in the world; they brought him away (JND) from it. Oh! may we know how to bring our dear sleeping brethren young and old away from the world.
How can we bring back and bring away? Prayer!
13. “And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.”
Every servant of God needs at times to be alone with the Lord. So with Paul. But those who desired fellowship with him waited until he came to them.
14-15. “And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.”
Three times in these two verses we read the words the next day. Following Christ, walking together with those of like precious faith and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace is a path of daily exercise.
16. “For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.”
The Apostle’s heart of love for the Jews would not allow him to spend time with the believers in Ephesus. But let’s not criticize the beloved Apostle’s actions until we have answered before our God what it is that keeps us away from expressing and enjoying collective fellowship with our brethren.
17. “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.”
The Apostle is about to leave a last, loving message for the sake of the believers in Ephesus. Since he won’t be there to give it to them personally, he calls for those with local oversight the elders those who were to lead the flock by their example. What a need exists, for those who desire the welfare of the flock of God, to live the doctrine Paul preached.
18. “And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons.”
Paul lived what he preached. If we as Christians are not consistent in our lives with that which we say we know, who will listen to what we minister?
Ed.