From
Acts to Revelation
Part
55 – Peace, the Sabbath & Raising the Dead
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
1) There is not much
peace for ministers of the Gospel.
2) Sunday is not the
Sabbath.
3) Euthychus is raised
from the dead.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Acts 20:1-12
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 Philippiafter the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined
the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
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.
I.
PAUL LEAVES AFTER THE RIOT
a.
The
riots in Ephesus caused Paul to once again leave.
i.
After he encouraged the Disciples (who talked
him out of appearing before the riotous mob), he left.
b.
Paul
traveled to Greece.
i.
Staying there three months.
ii.
He wanted to sail to Syria, but the Jews
had once again plotted against him.
c.
Paul
decided to go back through Macedonia.
d.
In vs.
5 we read, “...these men went on and
waited for us...”
i.
This gives indication that Luke was once
again traveling with Paul and his party, recording the events.
e.
After
the Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, they sailed and joined the
others in Troas.
i.
The Apostles and Disciples still
participated in the Passover Feasts, knowing now that they represented Christ,
doing so was the perfect opportunity to meet with God fearing Jews and Greeks,
and share the “true” meaning of the Feasts.
II.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
a. Why do
we have Church on Sunday?
i.
Some denominations say we have changed the
Sabbath.
ii.
However, followers of Christ have NOT
changed anything.
b.
In the
New Testament, Jesus and the Apostles always met on the First Day of the Week
for Worship, Offerings, and the Breaking of Bread (Communion).
c.
Things
to remember
i.
Jesus died on the 6th day
(Friday) and rose from the dead on the 1st day (Sunday)
ii.
The FIRST Service the Disciples had after
the Crucifixion was on Sunday in John 20:19
d.
We meet
for Church on Sunday, worship, give offerings, and have communion because
that's when the Apostles did.
e.
Some
say, “You can't work on Sunday, because you are supposed to keep the Sabbath
day Holy!”
i.
The Sabbath Day is NOT on Sunday.
ii.
The Sabbath Day begins on Friday at sunset,
and is over Saturday at sunset.
a.
So in reality, those people who say this,
if they do anything Friday evening to Saturday evening, in reality, they are
the ones breaking the Sabbath.
b.
Including cooking, cleaning, traveling,
purchasing, etc...
f.
Nowhere
in scripture does it imply Sunday (the first day of the week) when followers of
Christ meet for worship, offerings and communion, is to replace the Sabbath.
III.
EUTYCHUS RAISED FROM THE DEAD
a. Paul
spoke in the upstairs room
i. Planning on leaving the next day.
ii. However, he ended up speaking until midnight.
b. Eutychus
was a young man listening to Paul while he sat in a window in the upstairs
room.
i. The scriptures tell us he fell into a “deep sleep”, while Paul talked “on and on”.
c. Eutychus
fell from the third story window, and was found dead in the street below.
i. Paul took the man in his arms, saying “Don't be alarmed, he is alive!”
d. After
talking until daylight, Paul left, and they took the young man and were
comforted by Paul's words.
CONCLUSION
1. There is not much
peace for ministers of the Gospel.
a. Although Paul meets
adversity everywhere he goes, he continues to share the Gospel, and never stops
giving the lost hope.
2. Sunday is not the
Sabbath.
a. Sunday is not the
Sabbath, Friday at sunset until Saturday at sunset is.
b. However, the
Disciples met on the First Day of the Week for worship, collections, and
Communion.
3. Euthychus is raised
from the dead.
a. The young man was
raised by Paul, showing the people that Paul had authority to teach and preach
this message of Christ and Salvation.
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