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. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” (Acts 20:9-10 ESV)
Acts 20:1-16 is another account in the Book of Acts about Paul following God’s lead. If there’s one thing we have noticed about Paul thus far, it’s his faithfulness to the mission God has called him to, even when there seem to be obstacles in his way.
In this passage, we find that Paul intends to go to Jerusalem, via Syria, but opposition changes his plans. Trusting in God’s sovereignty, Paul takes a different route. He stays in Troas for a week.
During that unexpected pitstop, Paul preaches to the church at Troas. While Paul is speaking (and Luke tells us he’s speaking on and on), a young man falls out of a window to his death. Imagine something like this in the middle of church!
But then something amazing happens: Paul takes up the boy in his arms, and the boy is alive. A miracle! A resurrection! The people are comforted! And then . . . Paul goes back upstairs and continues the service!
Miracles are such a part of God’s character that sometimes they are reported in such matter-of-fact ways, such as in this account.
We may not always see such physical manifestations of miracles, but if we walk with God, there are miracles everywhere! Life with God is in and of itself supernatural. When believers gather together, God is transforming us as heaven meets earth. All too often, however, we get bored with the mundane. May God give us faith to know that our supernatural, miracle-working God is with us, so that we may trust him more and more!