What role does faith play in experiencing God's miracles, as seen in Acts 20:12? Setting the Scene in Troas Acts 20 recounts a late–night gathering where Paul “kept on speaking until midnight” (v. 7). A young man named Eutychus, sitting in an upper-story window, drifted off, fell, and was “picked up dead” (v. 9). Paul hurried down, embraced him, and declared life over him. Verse 12 then records the joyful outcome: “They took the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.” Faith on Display: Paul’s Confidence • Paul’s immediate reaction wasn’t panic but faith-filled action. • He “fell on him, embraced him, and said, ‘Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him’ ” (v. 10). • That declaration echoes Elijah (1 Kings 17:21-22) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:34-35); Paul acts with the same assurance that God still works miraculously. • His faith became the channel through which God’s resurrecting power flowed. Community Faith: The Believers’ Expectation • The church in Troas had gathered to hear the Word and break bread; they already trusted God’s power. • Instead of dispersing in despair, they stayed with Paul, witnessing and agreeing with his faith-filled declaration. • Their shared confidence prepared the atmosphere for God’s intervention, much like the friends who lowered the paralytic through the roof (Mark 2:4-5). Personal Faith and Miracles • Scripture consistently links miracles to believing hearts: – “According to your faith will it be done to you.” (Matthew 9:29) – “All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) • Faith does not create power; it receives it. Eutychus experienced resurrection because God willed it, yet Paul’s trust opened the way. • Unbelief can hinder: in Nazareth Jesus “could not do any miracles there… because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:5-6). Timeless Principles for Us Today • When unexpected crises strike, faith turns our first impulse from fear to reliance on God’s ability. • Bold, spoken agreement with God’s promises (“his life is in him”) aligns our words with His will. • Corporate faith—believers standing together—invites comfort and strengthens hope. • The ultimate miracle is life-from-death. Every resurrection account foreshadows the gospel itself (John 11:25-26). Supporting Scriptures on Faith and Miracles • Hebrews 11:6 —“Without faith it is impossible to please God.” • James 5:15 —“The prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick.” • Luke 8:50 —“Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be healed.” • Acts 3:16 —The lame man stands “by faith in His name.” Summary Truths • Faith is the God-ordained means by which believers lay hold of miraculous grace. • Acts 20:12 shows a living illustration: confident proclamation, unified expectation, and God’s undeniable power meeting human need. • The same Lord who raised Eutychus still honors faith today, bringing life, comfort, and testimony to His church. |
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