Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily 43

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

Acts XX. 1

And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

There was need of much comforting after that uproar. Accordingly, having done this, he goes into Macedonia, and then into Greece. For, it says, when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, and there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. (v. 2, 3.) Again he is persecuted by the Jews, and goes into Macedonia. And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. These going before tarried for us at Troas. (v. 4, 5.) But how does he call Timothy a man of Thessalonica? This is not his meaning, but, Of Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus and Gaius: of Derbe, Timothy, etc., these, he says, went before him to Troas, preparing the way for him. And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. [[Acts 20.6]] For it seems to me that he made a point of keeping the feasts in the large cities. From Philippi, where the affair of the prison had taken place. This was his third coming into Macedonia, and it is a high testimony that he bears to the Philippians, which is the reason why he makes some stay there. And upon the 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. [[Acts 20.7]] It was then the (season between Easter and) Pentecost. See how everything was subordinate to the preaching. It was also, it says, the Lord's day. Not even during night-time was he silent, nay he discoursed the rather then, because of stillness. Mark how he both made a long discourse, and beyond the time of supper itself. But the Devil disturbed the feast — not that he prevailed, however — by plunging the hearer in sleep, and causing him to fall down. And, it says, there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 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. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him, said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore had come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. [[Acts 20.8]]-12 But observe, I pray you, the theatre, how crowded it was: and the miracle, what it was. He was sitting in a window, at dead of night. Such was their eagerness to hear him! Let us take shame to ourselves! Aye, but