[The posts which follow make extensive use of The Acts of the Apostles, by Madame Cecilia, (Religious of St Andrew's Convent, Streatham), with an Imprimi potest dated 16 October 1907 (Westminster); Burns, Oates & Washbourne Ltd. (London). With grateful prayers for the author and her team:
REQUIEM æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.ETERNAL rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.]
Acts XX : 1-12
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[2] And when he had gone over those parts, and had exhorted them with many words, he came into Greece;
[3] Where, when he had spent three months, the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria; so he took a resolution to return through Macedonia.
[4] And there accompanied him Sopater the son of Pyrrhus, of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus, and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
[5] These going before, stayed for us at Troas.
[6] But we sailed from Philippi after the days of the Azymes, and came to them to Troas in five days, where we abode seven days.
[7] And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, being to depart on the morrow: and he continued his speech until midnight.
[8] And there were a great number of lamps in the upper chamber where we were assembled.
[9] And a certain young man named Eutychus, sitting on the window, being oppressed with a deep sleep, (as Paul was long preaching,) by occasion of his sleep fell from the third loft down, and was taken up dead.
[10] To whom, when Paul had gone down, he laid himself upon him, and embracing him, said: Be not troubled, for his soul is in him.
[11] Then going up, and breaking bread and tasting, and having talked a long time to them, until daylight, so he departed.
[12] And they brought the youth alive, and were not a little comforted.
[1] Postquam autem cessavit tumultus, vocatis Paulus discipulis, et exhortatus eos, valedixit, et profectus est ut iret in Macedoniam. [2] Cum autem perambulasset partes illas, et exhortatus eos fuisset multo sermone, venit ad Graeciam : [3] ubi cum fecisset menses tres, factae sunt illi insidiae a Judaeis navigaturo in Syriam : habuitque consilium ut reverteretur per Macedoniam. [4] Comitatus est autem eum Sopater Pyrrhi Beroeensis, Thessalonicensium vero Aristarchus, et Secundus, et Gajus Derbeus, et Timotheus : Asiani vero Tychicus et Trophimus. [5] Hi cum praecessissent, sustinuerunt nos Troade :
[6] nos vero navigavimus post dies azymorum a Philippis, et venimus ad eos Troadem in diebus quinque, ubi demorati sumus diebus septem. [7] Una autem sabbati cum convenissemus ad frangendum panem, Paulus disputabat cum eis profecturus in crastinum, protraxitque sermonem usque in mediam noctem. [8] Erant autem lampades copiosae in coenaculo, ubi eramus congregati. [9] Sedens autem quidam adolescens nomine Eutychus super fenestram, cum mergeretur somno gravi, disputante diu Paulo, ductus somno cecidit de tertio coenaculo deorsum, et sublatus est mortuus. [10] Ad quem cum descendisset Paulus, incubuit super eum : et complexus dixit : Nolite turbari, anima enim ipsius in ipso est.
[11] Ascendens autem, frangensque panem, et gustans, satisque allocutus usque in lucem, sic profectus est. [12] Adduxerunt autem puerum viventem, et consolati sunt non minime.
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Notes
1. took his leave. This would include, the kiss and embrace given on arrival or departure.
set forward to go into Macedonia. St Paul deemed it prudent to withdraw, for the good of the church in Ephesus ; he therefore profited by the cessation of the riot to execute his design, previously conceived, of visiting Macedonia and Greece. A short time before he had written from Ephesus to the Corinthians to inform them of his intention. Cf. Now I will come to you when I shall have passed through Macedonia. For I shall pass through Macedonia, and with you perhaps I shall abide, or even spend the winter, that you may bring me on my way whithersoever I shall go (1 Cor. xvi. 5-6).
It is probable that Aquila and Priscilla left Ephesus at the same time for Rome, since, when St Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans during his visit to Corinth, he sends greetings to them (see Rom. xvi. 8-4). If it was on this occasion that they laid down their own necks for the life of the apostle, it was evidently prudent for them to leave Ephesus.
2. those parts, — i.e. Macedonia. He also travelled as far as Illyricum. Cf. By the virtue of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Ghost, so that from Jerusalem round about as far as unto Illyricum, I have replenished the gospel of Christ (Rom. xv. 19).
The journey through Macedonia and Achaia covered a period of about one year, during which St Paul wrote from Macedonia the second Epistle to the Corinthians, and, from Corinth, the Epistle to the Romans.
Greece. St Luke gives the national, not the provincial designation (Ἑλλαδα). This is the only passage in the New Testament where the word “ Hellas” occurs. It is here equivalent to Achaia or Southern Greece. Northern Greece consisted of Macedonia proper, Illyricum, Epirus, and Thessaly.
3. three months, — i.e. of autumn. He had left Ephesus after Pentecost, i.e. in the middle of June.
the Jews laid wait. Better, ‘‘ a plot being laid against, him by the Jews ” (γενομενης αὐτω ἐπιβουλης ὑπο των Ἰουδαιων). Those who had so bitterly opposed St Paul on his previous journey, and had brought him before Gallio, now endeavoured to hike the law into their own hands. They either wished to seize him as he embarked from Cenchra, or to kill him on the voyage.
took a resolution. Lit, “it was his purpose” (ἐγεντο γνωμη σϲ. αὐτω).
4. there accompanied him. Some MSS. add “as far as Asia.” This was true as regards Sopater, who remained in Asia. These representatives of the churches in Macedonia and Achaia were taking up a considerable sum of money as alms for the poorer brethren in Jerusiuem.
Sopater. The same name occurs in another form in the epistle to the Romans. Cf. Lucius, and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen (xvi. 21). All the companions of St Paul mentioned in verse 4 were evidently with him in Corinth.
son of Pyrrhus. These words, though wanting in some of the codices, have the support of A, B, D, E, the Vulgate, and many cursives.
Aristarchus. See supra, xix. 29. •
Secundus. He is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament.
Timothy. The Syriac version adds “of Lystra.”
Tychicus. This name, corresponding to the Roman name “Felix,” signifies “fortunate.” It was very common among freedmen. St Paul sent Tychicus to Ephesus later on (see 2 Tim. iv. 12).
Trophimus. The name signifies “ foster-child.” This disciple was an Ephesian, and consequently a Gentile convert. It was his presence in Jerusalem with St Paul which gave occasion to the apostle’s arrest (infra, xxi, 29).
5. These going before, etc. Commentators differ in their explanations of this verse. The more general opinion is that St Paul and his seven companions travelled through Berea and Thessalonica to Neapolis, the port of Philippi, and there embarked for Troas, while St Paul, having found St Luke at Philippi, remained there for the Feast of the Pasch, and then set sail for Troas.
It is uncertain why they separated thus, but the desire to profit by fair weather, or the difficulty of finding accommodation for so large a party at this season, may have determined this step.
6. we sailed. The first person plural is now resumed, shewing that St Luke was again St Paul’s companion.
after the days, etc., — i.e. after eight days, inclusive of the Feast of the Pasch.
to Troas. The city, not the district which is mentioned in xvi. 8, 11.
in five days. The wind was unfavourable, or the journey might have been made in two days. (See xvi. 11.)
“ The ship had now to contend against the south-west current that set in from the Dardanelles, and probably also against the Etesian winds blowing from the north-east, that prevail in the Archipelago in the spring.”
7. on the first day of the week. The Greek reads, “on one of the sabbaths ” (τη μια των σαββατων) i.e. one day after the sabbath. The Jews had no special name for each day of the week, but spoke of them with reference to the Sabbath ; also the Hebrews used the cardinal numbers where we use the ordinal.
From the time of our Lord’s Resurrection, we find the disciples assembling for their devotions on the first day of the week, when it was customary to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
we were assembled. A few MSS. give “the disciples” instead of “we.” Alford suggests that this variant reading arose from the copyists not noticing the transition from the third to the first person, and therefore changing the nominative to make it agree with “them.”
8. great number of lamps. The Jews were accustomed to light lamps on festal occasions. These numerouss lamps would perhaps induce drowsiness ; by their light, the accident was clearly seen.
upper chamber. See Annot. on i. 13. “The Christians of Troas were gathered together at this solemn time to celebrate that feast of love which the last commandment of Christ has enjoined on all His followers. The place was an upper room, with a recess or balcony projecting over the street or court. The night was dark ; three weeks had not elapsed since the Passover, and the moon only appeared as a faint crescent in the early part of the night.”
9. Eutychus. This disciple is not mentioned elsewhere. He was quite a young man (νεανιας).
sitting on the window, — i.e. on the window seat. In the East, windows were often only openings in the walls, without glass or shutters. They were sometimes rendered secure by means of lattices.
being oppressed. Lit. “being borne down ” (καταφερομενος). He was gradually overpowered by drowsiness, until, losing consciousness, he fell head foremost on the stone pavement of the courtyard.
fell from the third loft, — i.e. from the third storey.
Thus Ochozias fell through the lattices of his upper chamber which he had in Samaria, and was sick (4 Kings i . 2).
taken up dead. Eutychus was really dead. We can imagine the scene. All were eagerly listening to St Paul when a heavy thud was suddenly heard, and those nearest to Eutychus raised the alarm. The men hurried down with torches to render what assistance they could, while the women remained terrified in the upper chamber and feared to hear the worst. Then some one returned with the sad news, and the disciples at once began their lamentations, in true Oriental fashion. St Paul then went down, and having prayed, he raised the young man to life.
10. he laid himself upon him. Jesus recalled the dead to life by a word of command, but St Paul, like Elias and Eliseus (see 3 Kings xvii. 21 ; 4 Kings iv. 34), stretched himself upon the dead man and invoked God.
Be not troubled. The disciples had immediately commenced the formal lamentations for the dead, customary among the Jews.
11. going up. To reach the courtyard it was not necessary to pass through the house. An exterior staircase led from the upper chamber to the garden or to the street.
breaking bread. The Greek has “ the bread,” i.e. the Holy Eucharist. The service which had been interrupted by this incident was now resumed. What mingled feelings of awe and gratitude must have filled the souls of those communicants !
having talked. They spoke familiarly, the discourse being now finished.
until daylight. The service had lasted some hours, but the disciples were eager to profit by St Paul’s presence. This was his farewell visit to Troas, and, desiring to give them his final instructions and exhortations, he evangelized in labour and .... in much watchings (2 Cor. xi. 27).
12. they brought. The youth was able to walk. Note the contrast : the young man who had been taken up dead was now led up alive. Codex Bezæ adds, “ as they were taking farewell.”
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
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