JOHN CHOWNING
Eutychus is a young man who fell into the history of the New Testament church at Troas. The only place in Scripture where we can read anything about him is in Acts 20:7-12. Here, it is written: “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. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 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...” (Acts 20:7-9).
This scene recorded by Luke has several profitable lessons. These include:
Eutychus is a noteworthy example of pursuing spiritual things while he was a young man. Solomon’s timeless counsel of remembering God in the days of one’s youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1) appears to have been implemented in his life. To have the best possible life on this earth, beginning it with a desire to pursue spiritual things is getting started on the right foot.
As he does of Saul of Tarsus (in Acts 7:58) and Paul’s nephew (in Acts 23:16), Luke describes Eutychus as a “young man” (v. 9). This description would place him in all probability in the 18-30 age range. Even though many of his peers in Troas were focused on less spiritual, even sinful, activities on that Sunday, he was not. Eutychus had prioritized attending worship on the first day of the week, and thus he was where he was.
Eutychus is a sobering example of coming to worship and/or Bible class not fully prepared to actively participate. We are not given any back story as to why Eutychus was so tired that he fell into a “deep sleep”. There are “best case” scenario explanations and “worst case” scenario explanations. Each provide excellent food for thought.
A “best case” scenario is that Eutychus had had to work during the day, quite possibly because he was a slave. (According to first century historians, his name was a common one among slaves.) Therefore, it is possible he had been up by sunrise or before and had worked until sunset attending to his master’s demands. He had no choice in the matter. Then, rather than going home to eat and rest after a long day of work, he went to worship.
Records do exist from the early centuries of church history which document our brothers and sisters in Christ meeting for worship on the first day of the week before dawn (i.e., before attending to their chores as slaves) or after dusk (i.e., after doing a day of chores as slaves). Such may have been Eutychus’ situation.
Another possible “best case” scenario is that Eutychus may have had a physical disease (like narcolepsy) or a medical condition. Brethren today who war with pain on a daily basis or have a terrible allergy attack may take medication prior to assembling with the saints in hope of finding some relief. Such actions have been known to result in and undesired bout with drowsiness. This may have been Eutychus’ experience.
A third possible “best case” scenario is that Eutychus was more of an early riser, not a “night owl”. Staying up until midnight may not have been something agreeable to his sleep patterns, even though he was a young man. From a tender age brother Wayne Jackson developed the habit of being an early riser (i.e., 4:00 a.m.). He maintained this practice throughout his lifetime (he died December 2, 2020). Staying awake and functional past his usual bedtime may have been too much for Eutychus on this first day of the week.
Unfortunately, several instructive “worst case” scenarios are possible. It may have been that Eutychus was not a slave, and therefore he had the opportunity to get the necessary sleep so as to be prepared for worship, but he chose not to. He may have overscheduled himself. Thus, when he finally slowed down at the end of a hectic day, he was exhausted and shortly thereafter he drifted off into a deep sleep.
In the past fifty years, the world has dramatically increased its disrespect for any kind of sanctity for the Lord’s Day, and Satan has leveraged this to encroach upon people’s schedules. Sports events, athletic practices, mandatory work, shopping, parties, and showers which would not have been scheduled on the first day of the week fifty years ago, now are. Because of this, brethren can so fill the Lord’s Day with so much hustle and bustle that by the time they do assemble together with the saints in the evening, they join the ranks of Eutychus.
Not only can this be done on Sunday afternoons, it also can be done on Saturdays, especially on Saturday nights. It is a necessary duty of Christian parents to guard their children’s schedules on Saturdays and their bedtimes on Saturday nights. Preparation for Sunday morning Bible class and worship begins on Saturday night.
Just as parents of school-aged children are a detriment to their child’s education when they do not set and enforce a reasonable bedtime, Christian parents can be a hindrance to their child’s readiness to participate in Bible class and worship for exactly the same reason. In light of our Lord’s warning in Matthew 18:4-6, being a hindrance to a young child and his faith is NOT wise.
Assembling with the saints is a commendable example set by Eutychus. Being so tired that you cannot actively and attentively participate in worship and Bible class is a cautionary warning his example also sets.