Ask Away – December 10

1)

Was Eutychus really dead? (Acts 20:9)

Acts 20:9 says that Eutychus was “taken up dead,” and the author, Luke, could certainly vouch for the fact, since he was there (Acts 20:8) and he was a doctor (Col 4:14). Clearly, this was a case of Paul raising someone from the dead (cf. 2 Kings 4:34–35).

2)

How could Paul raise Eutychus from the dead and then keep on talking? (Acts 20:10-11)

While Paul had already spoken to the disciples at Troas for a long time (Acts 20:7), the raising of Eutychus must have caused much excitement and many questions, and this no doubt motivated Paul to keep talking until dawn.

3)

Why did Paul continue his journey to Jerusalem when the Tyrian disciples and Agabus warned him through the Spirit that he would be imprisoned? (Acts 21:4)

Paul knew it was God’s will for him to go to Jerusalem (Acts 19:21; 20:22), and so he persisted in spite of the growing realization of what awaited him (Acts 20:23). When the Spirit revealed Paul’s future to his friends, they naturally sought to dissuade him (Acts 21:4), but Paul knew he must go, and his friends eventually accepted this (Acts 21:14).