Acts 20:9

And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. Acts 20:9

The translation is more precisely rendered, “And a certain youth named Eutychus, sitting upon the window, deep sleep overpowering him – Paul discoursing on more – having been overpowered from the sleep, fell from the third story down, and was taken up dead” (CG).

The previous verse curiously noted that there were many lamps in the upper room where the church was gathered. One main reason for including that observation is now seen. Luke’s use of participles gives action to the events as they occur. His words begin with, “And a certain youth.”

The word “youth” signifies a young man, but it can extend to someone even forty years of age. He is a man in the prime of life. Luke next says, “named Eutychus.” The name comes from eu, well or good, and tuché, fortune or fate. Hence, his name means Well Fated. This Eutychus is “sitting upon the window.”

Luke uses a present participle. He is sitting there during the gathering. Vincent’s Word Studies says, “The windows of an Eastern house are closed with lattice-work, and usually reach down to the floor, resembling a door rather than a window. They open, for the most part, to the court, and not to the street, and are usually kept open on account of the heat.”

It is in this location that he is sitting “upon” the window, meaning directly upon the frame. But more, the use of the article before “window” implies it is the one (or main) window to the entire room. Certainly because of this, as will be explained, there was “deep sleep overpowering him.”

The word translated as overpowering, katapheró, is also a present participle. It is used for the first of four times, all in acts. It signifies to bear down, overpower, oppress, etc. Its second use will be in this verse as well. Being another present participle, Luke is drawing the reader into the narrative with one quick thought after another. Eutychus is sitting upon the window, and he is being overpowered by sleep.

With that, Luke provides the next words in another present participle to provide a reason for why he was being overpowered, saying, “Paul discoursing on more.”

The night is wearing on, Eutychus is sitting upon the window, there are many lamps in the room, all of which are burning, and Paul is talking on and on. Being in the window, he was in the spot where all of the heat and smoke of the “many lamps” would exhaust from the room. Breathing this in would make anyone sleepy, no matter how exciting the words of Paul. Thus, Luke switches to an aorist participle, saying, “having been overpowered from the sleep.”

It is the second use of katapheró. Eutychus was being overpowered, and then he is overpowered. He could not bear up with the long hours sitting directly in the spot where all of the lamp fumes, heat mixed with smoke, were exiting. And so, he “fell from the third story down.”

This is the only use of the word tristegon, or third story, in the Bible. It means that Eutychus probably fell somewhere about 18-25 feet, maybe a bit more if the window was elevated. Being asleep when he fell, he would have been unable to keep himself from damage. Rather, he would have plunked down in whatever form his body slumped over in. Therefore, Luke next notes, “and was taken up dead.”

Luke, being a competent physician, notes with all certainty that Eutychus had expired from the fall. Goodbye, Eutychus.

Life application: When something unusual is stated in Scripture, such as noting “many lamps” in the previous verse, there will be a reason for it. The reason may escape us. But in thinking through the times, situations, and circumstances of the event being described, we can usually come to a conclusion concerning the reason.

Further, there are two thousand years’ worth of commentary available to us. A simple search on the internet will bring up many of them. Be careful with such things because, quite often, the most sensational comments are the ones that are more commonly read. Because of this, they will come up first on internet searches. So be sure to read several commentaries. The initial one may be sensational, but it also may be wrong.

Take the time and effort necessary to find out the reason for things that you find curious. Quite often, you will discover that real human events are connected to real human circumstances. From there, and built upon that foundation, the miraculous will then come forth, such as what will next be stated by Luke in the ongoing narrative.

Heavenly Father, it is a treasure to search out Your word and to find out why things are stated there. The cultures described are different and the circumstances vary, but the human element remains the same. We can identify with what happened thousands of years ago because we are humans that You have created to know You and Your intents for us personally. Thank You for this precious word. Amen.