Last week’s Today’s Alternative showed why Paul, though in a hurry to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, delayed his trip and stayed in Troas for seven days. It was because that was the day the churches worldwide met to worship; the first day of the week, the day we commonly call Sunday (Acts 20:6, 7).
It was explained last week that the expression in verse 7, “to break bread,” referred to the occasion when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, took bread, blessed and broke it, and said, “Take, eat; this is (this represents) My body” (Matthew 26:26).
Sunday was to be the day of worship, from the day the church was originated, as revealed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:42). Examples showing the first century church following and being reminded of the command of Christ are recorded in Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 11:23, 24. Examples are to be followed. They should be followed by churches today. After all, that’s why Christ gave the commandment.
A remarkable occurrence happened on that day when Paul worshiped with the disciples at Troas. The details of that occurrence are given in Acts 20:7-12. Paul’s preaching was lengthy. A young man sitting in an open window in their third floor meeting room fell asleep, fell to the ground and died.
He was acknowledged dead by the Holy Spirit who superintended and inspired the writing of this account by Luke, a physician by training, who wrote the account pronouncing the young man dead. But, remember, the apostle Paul was there. Paul went down, “fell on him, and embracing him said, ‘Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.’"
This and all other miracles ceased upon the completion of the writing of the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 and Ephesians 4:11-13 as applied to the writing of scripture show this. Uninspired writing of the second century also attest to their cessation. Certainly we recognize that people today do not miraculously bring one back to life. Cases where such may be spoken of by others, including doctors, are properly spoken of as providential events, not miracles. God still heals in answer to prayer. That is providential healing, and does not mean that any person involved in the situation has miraculous powers, as did the apostles and other Christians of the first century.
More today would have better understanding if the words the scriptures are written in were properly used; with the same meaning the authors of those words used them in writing.
Questions To Aid Your Spiritual Growth:
1. On what day of the week did the first century churches meet for worship?
2. If an example is that which is to be followed, should not churches of today do so?
3. Was the remarkable occurrence at Troas involving a young man a miracle or a providential healing?
4. If as some claim, miracles are still being performed today, why do we never see this type of miracle happening today?