Bible Figure
Eutychus
young man tended to by St. Paul (Acts of the Apostles)
Eutychus was a young man in Troas who fell from a third-story window while Paul was speaking late into the night. He was taken up dead, but Paul embraced him and assured the believers that his life was in him. The congregation was greatly comforted.
Biography
Acts 20 recounts Paul's final visit to Troas during his journey toward Jerusalem. On the first day of the week the believers gathered to break bread, and Paul prolonged his address until midnight because he intended to leave the next day. Eutychus, a young man sitting in a window, became increasingly drowsy and fell from the third story. Luke states that he was picked up dead. Paul went down, bent over him, embraced him, and told the believers not to be alarmed because his life was in him. Paul then returned upstairs, broke bread, ate, and continued speaking until daybreak. The young man was brought away alive, and the believers were greatly comforted.
Biblical Significance
Eutychus' restoration is one of the striking signs associated with Paul's ministry and echoes earlier biblical accounts of prophets restoring life. The episode also provides a vivid glimpse of early Christian gathering, teaching, fellowship, and the apostolic mission's demanding pace.