Summer Devotional:
​No Other Name - A Devotional on the Book of Acts

Day 40 – July 16th, 2021
Read Acts 20:3-12

Helpful Background
Poor Eutychus!  Eternally recorded in the Word of God, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, as one who fell asleep in Church!  (Yet more proof that our GREAT God has a GREAT sense of humor!)  The reasons for the young man falling asleep are wonderfully “normal” and perfectly understandable, as it was very late, probably very warm, perhaps at the end of a long day of work, and well, Paul was going “on and on.”  Though at first glance, the mention of Eutychus might seem gratuitous and unnecessary, Luke includes this account to demonstrate the ultimate Holy Spirit-given power that the apostle Paul demonstrated to confirm who he was and what he was teaching, bringing back to life someone who had clearly died.
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“He’s alive!”  (20:10) As Paul spoke the joy-filled words that Luke recorded, what incredible joy and excitement must have spread to all of the believers. Tragedy had been reversed, a horribly sad event had been instantly converted to a moment of awe and delight, and everyone had a story of resurrection that they would never forget.  This account echoes a powerful resurrection that the Holy Spirit performed through the apostle Peter in Acts 9:36-42, and again affirms Paul’s status as an apostle and an authority from God to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (It would have also connected Paul and Peter to the OT prophets that God had sent to His people, who also brought the dead back to life through the power of the Holy Spirit. (1 Kgs. 17:21, 2 Kgs. 4:32-35) 

Questions - How did the Christians of Troas demonstrate their priority on each other and their faith community? (When did they gather?  For how long?  Why?  What did they do even after witnessing a tragedy turned miracle?) Do we prioritize each other and our spiritual community?  How do we demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the Lord, to each other, and to our Church faith community?

Grab your journal or use the notes section on your phone.
Respond to the Scripture reading with your thoughts, questions, and/or prayer response to today’s Bible verses.​

For more background information & study questions on the Book of Acts, check out Brian Ralston's handouts here.