A Miracle for Eutychus

Practical Lessons from a Miracle for Eutychus

By Senior Pastor Dr. Bill Rains | October 5, 2025

Turn to Acts 20:7-12. Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. Let’s pray: Father, thank You for this wonderful Lord’s Day. Help those unsure of their salvation to trust Jesus today, and help me preach. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

On October 5, 2025, Senior Pastor Dr. Bill Rains delivered a heartfelt sermon titled "Practical Lessons from a Miracle for Eutychus" at Mission Baptist Church in Cincinnati, OH, preaching from Acts 20:7-12. Reflecting on nearly 50 years of ministry, Pastor Rains shared the story of Eutychus, a young man who fell asleep during Paul’s long sermon, fell from a third-story window, and was miraculously restored to life through Paul’s embrace. The sermon offers practical lessons for believers: avoid dangerous spiritual places, stay awake to God’s Word, and embrace the fallen with Christ’s love to lead them to salvation.

Sitting in a Dangerous Place

Pastor Rains highlighted Eutychus’ perilous position: “And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9, KJV). Sitting on a third-story window ledge, Eutychus leaned the wrong way—outward, toward danger—rather than inward, toward safety. Pastor Rains questioned why parents or church leaders allowed him to sit there, drawing parallels to modern believers who sit in spiritually dangerous places, leaning toward worldly influences. Citing Psalm 1:1, Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, he urged parents and leaders to guide youth away from spiritual peril.

Sleeping During the Preaching

Eutychus fell asleep during Paul’s extended sermon: “and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7, KJV). Pastor Rains humorously acknowledged the challenge of long sermons, sharing stories of congregants like Deacon Wayne, who dozed from exhaustion yet faithfully attended. He emphasized compassion over criticism, noting that believers should prepare for worship with rest and attentiveness. The church service, an all-day training session in Troas, was meant to equip believers to reach the lost. Pastor Rains encouraged organized, timely services and urged listeners to stay spiritually awake, avoiding the consequences of disengagement, as seen in Eutychus’ tragic fall.

Saved in the Embrace of the Preacher

The miracle came through Paul’s response: “And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him” (Acts 20:10, KJV). Rather than condemning Eutychus or his parents, Paul left the pulpit to embrace the fallen youth, restoring him through prayer and compassion. Pastor Rains stressed that a true preacher’s role is to embrace the fallen, not judge them, sharing Christ’s love: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, KJV). He called for loving supervision of youth and a church community that hugs, cares, and guides, reflecting Jesus’ unconditional love to lead others to salvation.