Zeal To Behold

Some think sermons last too long today,
Though few extend beyond one-half hour;
Paul preached from first dark to full light of day---
All night long---in Troas; the Spirit’s pow’r
He needed, when a young man went to sleep,
And died by falling three floors to the ground!
Paul went down, hugged the youth, his life to keep;
Then told the crowd, his life was returned sound!
It was midnight; Paul ate; and next resumed
His sermon on Jesus, until the morning;
He bade them adieu, as the new sun bloomed;
The crowd left glad, with no need for mourning!
The zeal of Paul was something to behold,
And it was matched by listeners of old!

“On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 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. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. ‘Dpn’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘He’s alive!’ Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.” (Acts 20:7-12)

The personal pronoun “we” in the scripture above refers to Luke, the author of the Books of Acta and the Gospel of Luke. He and Timothy, along with several others, accompanied Paul on this third missionary journey. The passage describes an amazing all-night sermon given by Paul in Troas, Macedonia, in a third-floor room of a house. The expression “broke bread” can refer either to eating a regular meal, or the sacrament of observing the Lord’s Supper, or the Eucharist. The reference to the “many lamps” in the room is probably given as partially causing the young man to fall aleep. Since Paul was not known for his eloquent speaking talent, I expect the interminable sermon was the chief cause of his falling asleep. I can’t imagine a modern congregation sitting through the first portion, until midnight, much less going back up three floors to stay until daylight. It is true, however, that the earliest Christians were known for their ebullience and zeal for hearing the “good news” of salvation; but it is not likely that Paul was able to hold the attention of many congregations all night. Thankfully, the young man’s life was spared by the power of the Holy Spirit, but it is hard for me to picture him going nack to finish the night listening to Paul. Did he have bruises and broken bones? If so, the next 6 hours must have been difficult for him. Maybe Paul healed those injuries, too. The Bible said the crowd was “comforted” when they went home because he was alive; I hope the same could be said for his mother or wife when she learned what happened!

Maybe there wasn’t but one door, and Paul was standing in it. That’s what most preachers today would have to do! Seriously though, the good news of salvation by the free grace of God is well worth sitting through fifty or any number of all-night sermons for the individual who accepts the free gift by believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior, and that's the gospel truth!