Acts 20:10

10 But Paul went down and 1fell upon him, and after embracing him, he 2said, "Do not be troubled, for his life is in him."

Acts 20:10 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 20:10

And Paul went down
From the upper room, where they were assembled, into the court, yard, or street, where he fell; or into the lower room of the house, where he was brought when taken up. The apostle might see him fall, or he might be told of it, or he might have an intimation of it from the Spirit of God, by whom he might be impressed to go down, in order to work a miracle, for the confirmation of the Gospel he was preaching:

and fell on him, and embracing him;
praying over him, as Elijah and Elisha did, ( 1 Kings 17:21 ) ( 2 Kings 4:34 ) and the like effect followed:

said, trouble not yourselves;
which speech perhaps was addressed to the friends and relations of the young man; or to the disciples present, who were concerned at this accident, both for the young man's sake, and lest it should be improved to the disadvantage of the Gospel by the enemies of it,

For his life,
or "soul"

is in him;
it being returned upon the apostle's falling on him, and praying over him; or he said this as being fully assured that it would return, in like manner as Christ said concerning Jairus's daughter, ( Luke 8:52 Luke 8:55 ) .

Acts 20:10 In-Context

8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.
9 And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead.
10 But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, "Do not be troubled, for his life is in him."
11 When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left.
12 They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 1 Kings 17:21; 2 Kings 4:34
  • 2. Matthew 9:23; Mark 5:39

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "Stop being troubled"
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