Acts 20 9

Acts 20:9 kjv

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.

Acts 20:9 nkjv

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.

Acts 20:9 niv

Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.

Acts 20:9 esv

And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.

Acts 20:9 nlt

As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below.

Acts 20 verses

Acts 20 9 Meaning

Acts 20:9 describes a young man named Eutychus, who was seated in a window while Paul was delivering an exceptionally long sermon in an upper room in Troas. Overwhelmed by deep sleep, likely due to the late hour and potentially stuffy conditions, he fell from the third story to his death. The verse serves as the prelude to a powerful miraculous resurrection performed by Paul.

Acts 20 9 Context

This verse is situated in Acts 20, detailing Paul's journey back to Jerusalem during his third missionary journey. The immediate context is a church gathering in an upper room in Troas (Acts 20:7). It was the first day of the week, indicating a typical gathering for early Christians. Paul, knowing he would depart the next day, was addressing the believers with intense teaching, "prolonging his speech until midnight" (Acts 20:7). The room was crowded and lit by "many lamps" (Acts 20:8), which could have contributed to warmth, stuffiness, and a lack of fresh air, potentially exacerbating drowsiness. Eutychus's incident occurs within this charged atmosphere of fervent teaching and eager listening, emphasizing the real human element alongside divine presence. Culturally, large upper rooms were often rented for such gatherings, elevated above street level for privacy and space, but with open windows presenting a danger.

Acts 20 9 Word analysis

• And there sat (καθήμενος, kathēmenos): A participle, "sitting." It highlights Eutychus's position, passively taking in the sermon, yet precarious given the location.
• in a window (ἐπὶ τῆς θυρίδος, epi tēs thyridos): Thuris means "window." The preposition epi with the genitive implies sitting upon or on the edge of the window opening, rather than merely "by" it. This suggests a less secure position. Windows in ancient multi-story buildings often had no glass and could be quite large or deep.
• a certain young man (τις νεανίας, tis neanias): Neanias refers to a young man, often aged 20-40. His youth makes his death particularly tragic and his fall less expected than an elderly or infirm person. The name Eutychus (Εὔτυχος, Eutychos) means "fortunate" or "lucky" in Greek, which creates a striking ironic contrast with his literal fall to death, highlighting the miraculous intervention that follows.
• being fallen into a deep sleep (βαθεῖ ὕπνῳ κατενεχθείς, bathei hypnō katenechtheis):
  • βαθεῖ ὕπνῳ (bathei hypnō): "deep sleep." Bathys signifies depth, suggesting an overwhelming, profound slumber.
  • κατενεχθείς (katenechtheis): This is an aorist passive participle meaning "being carried down," "overcome," or "sunk down." Here it refers to being utterly overcome by the depth of sleep. This wasn't merely a doze; he was entirely unconscious.
• and as Paul was long preaching (διαλεγομένου δὲ τοῦ Παύλου ἐπὶ πλεῖον, dialegomenou de tou Paulou epi pleion):
  • διαλεγομένου (dialegomenou): "dialoguing," "disputing," "reasoning," or "lecturing." Paul's teaching style was often discursive and intensive.
  • ἐπὶ πλεῖον (epi pleion): "for a longer time," "at great length," "exceedingly." This phrase underscores the sermon's extensive duration (recall Acts 20:7 says "until midnight") and intensity, a factor contributing to Eutychus's deep sleep. It was not a casual talk but a prolonged, fervent exposition.
• he sunk down with sleep (κατενεχθεὶς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου, katenechtheis apo tou hypnou): The verb katenechtheis is repeated from earlier, indicating a profound physical effect of the sleep that led directly to his descent. The preposition apo ("from" or "by reason of") signifies that sleep was the cause of his physical collapse. This emphasizes the sleep as the direct antecedent to the fall.
• and fell down from the third loft (ἔπεσεν ἀπὸ τοῦ τριστέγου, epesen apo tou trastegou):
  • ἔπεσεν (epesen): "he fell." A direct, forceful action.
  • τριστέγου (tristegou): Literally "three-roofed" or "three-storied building," signifying the third story. A fall from this height would be significant and typically fatal, demonstrating the severity of the accident.
• and was taken up dead (ἤρθη νεκρός, ērtē nekros):
  • ἤρθη (ērtē): "was picked up," "was carried up." It's passive, indicating he was found in that state.
  • νεκρός (nekros): "dead." This is explicit and crucial. The narrative does not suggest he was merely unconscious or severely injured. Acts 20:10 confirms this, indicating his "life (soul) is in him," strongly implying it had left. This makes the ensuing event a genuine resurrection.

Acts 20 9 Bonus section

The detailed account of Eutychus's death and resurrection adds remarkable verisimilitude to Luke's narrative in Acts. The specificity of the "third loft," the "window," and the precise description of his deep sleep leading to the fall, contribute to the feeling of an eyewitness report. This incident, while demonstrating a grand miracle, also shows the pastoral side of Paul – his concern for Eutychus, embracing the young man, and resuming his teaching afterwards, not letting the incident overshadow the purpose of their gathering. It showcases God's providence operating even amid human frailty and the inherent dangers of early church gatherings.

Acts 20 9 Commentary

Acts 20:9 presents a stark reality within a divine context. The verse serves as the immediate setup for a profound miracle that affirms Paul's apostolic authority and the power of the Gospel he proclaimed. Eutychus's "deep sleep" (βαθεῖ ὕπνῳ) and subsequent fatal fall from the "third loft" (τριστέγου) are presented plainly, removing any ambiguity about the severity of the situation. He "was taken up dead" (ἤρθη νεκρός), underscoring that his condition was beyond natural recovery.

The extended sermon by Paul ("long preaching," ἐπὶ πλεῖον), lasting until midnight (Acts 20:7), highlights Paul's dedication to teaching the believers extensively, preparing them for his imminent departure. This intensity, combined with the late hour and likely crowded, warm conditions (indicated by "many lamps" in verse 8, which consumed oxygen), plausibly led to the young man's physical exhaustion and irresistible slumber. This detail humanizes the scene, reminding us of the mundane circumstances that often accompany the extraordinary in biblical narratives.

The event, far from being a disruption or an embarrassing moment for Paul, became an opportunity for God's glory to be manifested. It parallels earlier resurrections by Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, and Peter, establishing Paul within this prophetic lineage. The "irony" of Eutychus's name, meaning "fortunate," initially seems tragically misplaced, but is ultimately fulfilled in his miraculous restoration to life, truly making him fortunate through divine intervention. This moment not only comforted the immediate community but served as a powerful testament to the life-giving power of God active through His apostle, bolstering faith in the message being delivered.