7On the first day of the week, when we had come together to break bread, Paul was talking with them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged the talk until midnight. [20:8] There were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled. [20:9] A certain young man named Eutychus was sitting by the window, being overpowered by a deep sleep as Paul talked on at greater length; overpowered by the sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. [20:10] Having descended, Paul fell upon him and, having embraced him, said: "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him." [20:11] Having gone back up and having broken the bread and having eaten, and having talked for a long while until daybreak, so he departed. [20:12] They brought the boy away alive, and were consoled beyond measure.
ACT 20:7-12
Eutychus Revived at Troas
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Mediterranean world, communal meals like the 'breaking of bread' were central to social and religious life, particularly among Jewish and early Christian groups. This act signified fellowship, shared identity, and often included teaching or exhortation. The gathering in Troas took place in an upper room, a common setting for such meetings, illuminated by many lamps, which were costly and indicated a significant occasion. Eutychus, a young man, sat by the window, a precarious position in a multi-story building. His deep sleep reflects the late hour and the extended nature of Paul’s discourse, which likely included exhortation and teaching. Falling from the third story would have been fatal, and Paul’s act of embracing him and declaring his (life force) intact aligns with narratives of miraculous restoration familiar in Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts. This event reinforced the community’s faith in Paul’s authority and the divine presence among them.
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How other translations render this
ACT 20:7
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.
- Koinōnos
- On the first day of the week, when we had come together to break bread, Paul was talking with them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged the talk until midnight.
ACT 20:8
- KJV
- And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
- BSB
- Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
- Koinōnos
- There were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled.
ACT 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.
- BSB
- And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead.
- Koinōnos
- A certain young man named Eutychus was sitting by the window, being overpowered by a deep sleep as Paul talked on at greater length; overpowered by the sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead.
ACT 20:10
- KJV
- And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
- BSB
- But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”
- Koinōnos
- Having descended, Paul fell upon him and, having embraced him, said: "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.
ACT 20:11
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And after speaking until daybreak, he departed.
- Koinōnos
- Having gone back up and having broken the bread and having eaten, and having talked for a long while until daybreak, so he departed.
ACT 20:12
- KJV
- And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
- BSB
- And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive.
- Koinōnos
- They brought the boy away alive, and were consoled beyond measure.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 20:7
- disciples:The word translated 'disciples' here refers to those who were actively learning from and following a teacher, implying a close, ongoing relationship of instruction and imitation.
ACT 20:9
- overpowered:The term used here for 'overpowered' suggests a complete and heavy descent into sleep, indicating a profound and irresistible slumber rather than just falling asleep.
ACT 20:10
- life:The word translated 'life' in this context refers to the animating principle of a living being, often associated with breath and consciousness, rather than merely existence.
ACT 20:12
- were comforted:The word translated 'were comforted' carries a broader meaning of being called alongside to help, encourage, or console, suggesting active support and reassurance beyond simple comfort.