Eutychus

A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off

into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the

ground three floors below and was picked up dead. But Paul went down, and

bending over him took him in his arms, and said, "do not be alarmed, for his life is

in him." Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he

continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left. Meanwhile they had

taken the boy away alive and were not a little comforted. (Acts 20:"9-12)

The name "Eutychus" means "Lucky", which is very appropriate for this young

man, as many commentators have observed. But we need not suppose that this is

coincidence. It may be that he was give the name "Eutychus" after this incident.

There is an inscription from Thessalonica from the 4th or 5th century that records a

"Marcus Aurelius Jacob also called Eutychius".(1) HIs Hebrew cognomen, Jacob,

and the mention of synagogues show that he was a Jew. His signum, Eutychius,

can be translated "the Lucky".

Eutychus was, however, a common name, so it is possible that the Eutychus of

Acts 20:9-12 was given the name at birth.