Acts 20:8

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.

American Standard Version (1901)

And there were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered together.

Bible in Basic English

And there were a number of lights in the room where we had come together.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And there were a great number of lamps in the upper chamber where we were assembled.

Free Bible Version

(The upstairs room where we were meeting was lit by many lamps.)

Geneva Bible 1599

And there were many lightes in an vpper chamber, where they were gathered together.

King James (Authorized) Version

And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

Plain English Version

We were meeting in an upstairs room. It was 3 floors high. There were a lot of oil lamps burning in that room, and the smoke made some people get sleepy.

Translation for Translators

Many oil lamps were burning in the upstairs room in which we (exc) had gathered, so the fumes caused some people to become sleepy.

Unlocked Literal Bible

There were many lamps in the upper room where we had come together.

Noah Webster Bible

And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were assembled.

World English Bible

There were many lights in the upper room where we were gathered together.

Young's Literal Translation

and there were many lamps in the upper chamber where they were gathered together,

Context

Eutychus Revived at Troas

⁷On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.⁸Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.⁹And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead.

Summary

This verse describes an incident where Paul was preaching in an upper room in Troas. A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in a window, fell into a deep sleep and fell from the third story to the ground below. Despite the tragic accident, Paul went down, embraced Eutychus, and miraculously restored him to life. This event showcases the power of God working through Paul, demonstrating the authority and compassion of the early Christian leaders. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of staying alert and engaged during times of spiritual teaching and fellowship.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Upper chamber - It was in an upper chamber in the temple that the primitive disciples were accustomed to meet: on that account, they might have preferred an upper chamber whenever they could meet with it. The pious Quesnel supposes that the smoke, issuing from the many lamps in this upper chamber, was the cause of Eutychus falling asleep; and this, he says, the apostle mentions, in charity, to excuse the young man's appearing negligent.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And there were many lights in the upper chamber,.... Which were lighted up, both for necessary uses, to see by, to read the word, and to administer the ordinance of the supper, and for the comfort and pleasure of the whole company, both preacher and hearers; as well as to remove all ground of suspicion, or occasion of reproach, as if it was a midnight society met for wicked practices: but this no ways countenances the use of lamps and wax candies in the daytime at divine worship, since this was in the night; of the upper chamber, in which it was usual to meet for religious exercises, see Mar 2:4, where they were gathered together; the Alexandrian copy, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions read, "where we were gathered together". , where they were gathered together; the Alexandrian copy, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions read, "where we were gathered together". Acts 20:9 act 20:9 act 20:9 act 20:9And there sat in a window a certain young man,.... In the upper room, where he placed himself, either for air and refreshment, the chamber being suffocating, through the number of people, and of lights; or for want of room, the place being full: named Eutychus; a Greek name, which signifies one of good fortune: being fallen into a deep sleep; which may be accounted for without aggravating the case; as from his youth, he was a young man, and so more subject to sleep, and more easily overcome with it, than persons in years, by reason of the humours of the body which incline to it; and also from the length of service, and the lateness of the season of the night, all which contributed to bring on this deep sleep: it can hardly be thought that he purposely composed himself to sleep, for had he, he would never have chose so dangerous a place to sit in as a window, and that at so great an height from the ground; but this sleep seemed to come upon him at an unawares; what hand soever Satan might have in it, with a view to the young man's hurt, both as to soul and body, and to bring reproach and scandal upon the church, and the Gospel, it seems evident that the providence of God was in it, and which overruled it for a good end, even the greater confirmation of the Gospel, and very probably for the spiritual good of the young man. And as Paul was long preaching he sunk down with sleep; being quite overcome, and bore down with it, not able to hold up his head, he either bowed down, or leaned backwards: and fell down from the third loft: or three story high, where the upper room was. It seems that he did not fall inward, for then he would have fallen no further than the floor of the upper room, but outward, out of the window into the street or yard; and this is the more evident from Paul's going down to him, mentioned in the next verse: and was taken up dead; not only for dead, or as one dead, but he really was dead, as it is no wonder he should.