This is week 2 of the series “Bound and Determined! – Paul’s Farewell Tour”
Introduction
Last week, we began the series with Paul’s stay in Ephesus and being ‘run out town’ by the idol makers. Now, we pick up the story of his journey to Troas.
20 “When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas
7 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. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 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. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.”
We see a great miracle at the end of the verses. And we could spend some time on it. However, the overall take away from these verses and last week’s verses leads one to focus on Paul’s determination (Bound and Determined) to spread the Gospel to as many people as possible along with his concern for the people. Imagine for a moment what it was like for Paul to spread the Good News in comparison to what it is like for us to spread the Good News. He had to either handwrite the message himself or have someone else do it for him. He either walked, rode an animal, or traveled by boat to deliver the message. And he more often than not delivered the message by speaking and interacting with individuals and groups. It has been said that he spent about 6 hours a day preaching at the synagogues and engaging in discussions with the people. He did this for 3 months and then switched to speaking to anyone and everyone for 2 years day in day out. The point is that Paul was determined that everyone should have an opportunity to hear the good news.
In this message, we see the boundless energy of Paul once more displayed with his midnight message in Troas. He began his message after the evening meal and continued on until midnight when the young man fell out of the window, died, and was brought back to life. Then what happened? Paul picked up where he left off and continued on until daylight.
Concluding Remarks and Application
Here we have seen Paul’s determination to spread the Gospel without our modern-day methods of communication and travel. No cell phones, internet, cars, or planes to whisk him from one place to another. So…..what is our excuse to not be bound and determined to tell the Good News? Perhaps, we can and should take a lesson from Paul……….
