IT WASN'T THE FALL THAT KILLED HIM - IT WAS THE SUDDEN STOP AT THE BOTTOM!

Acts 20:7-10  [The VOICE]

[After a week of traveling]  The Sunday night before our Monday departure, we gathered to celebrate the breaking of bread.

[Imagine you are celebrating with them:]  We are in an upstairs room, with the gentle light and shadows cast by several lamps.  Paul is carrying on an extended dialogue with the believers, taking advantage of every moment since we plan to leave at first light.  The conversation stretches on until midnight.

A young fellow named Eutychus, seeking some fresh air, moves to an open window.  Paul keeps on talking.  Eutychus perches in the open window itself.  Paul keeps talking.  Eutychus drifts off to sleep.  Paul continues talking until Eutychus, now overcome by deep sleep, drops out of the window and falls three stories to the ground, where he is found dead.

Paul joins us downstairs,  bends over, and takes Eutychus in his arms.

[Paul:]  It's OK.  He's alive again.

Then Paul goes back upstairs, celebrates the breaking of bread, and - just as you might guess - keeps on conversing until first light.

Keep in mind, the Bible is a boring, humorless book! 

Yeah, right!

By the way, try to stay awake in worship today!!!  In some churches you might leave with a mustache painted on...

SEVEN MEN RUNNING NAKED FROM A HOUSE!!!

Acts 19:11-20 (The VOICE)

God did amazing miracles through Paul.  People would take a handkerchief or article of clothing that had touched Paul's skin and bring it to their sick friends or relatives, and the patients would be cured of their diseases or released from the evil spirits that oppressed them.

Some itinerant Jewish exorcists noticed Paul's success in this regard, so they tried to use the name of Jesus, the King, in an exorcism they were performing.

[Imagine this:]  There are seven of them, all sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva, gathered around a demonized man in a house.

[One of the Jewish Exorcists:]  I command you to depart, by the Jesus proclaimed by Paul!

[Evil Spirit:]  Jesus I know.  Paul I know.  But who are you?

Then the man leaps up, attacks them all, rips off their clothing, and beats them so badly that they run out of the house stark naked and covered in bruises.

[Hal's commentary:]  And people say the Bible is boring and lacks humor!

Word of this strange event spread throughout Ephesus among both Jews and Greeks.  Everyone was shocked and realized that the name of Jesus was indeed powerful and praiseworthy.  As a result, a number of people involved in various occult practices came to faith.  They confessed their secret practices and rituals.  Some of them had considerable libraries about their magic arts;  they piled up their books and burned them publicly.  Someone estimated the value of the books to be 50,000 silver coins.  Again, word spread, and the message of the Lord overcame resistance and spread powerfully.

Lord Jesus!

Help me to exhibit Your power in my life every day in such an attractive way that lost people will want to tap in to You so they can get some of the benefits that they see me enjoying!

As an end result, may many come to faith in You - simply because they see Your power, peace, and presence so dynamically at work in my life!

Oh Yeah!