Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. (Acts 20:2-6)
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. (Acts 20:7-9)
Well, Paul can be considered as the first preacher that literally "bored a person to death". But seriously, he spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. Paul explained in a future letter, And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (I Corinthians 2:1-5)
Today so many preachers try to get the people excited and saying "Amen" and shouting when they speak. If that's how the Holy Spirit moves a person to respond, that is fine. But the goal of the preacher should not be to incite that kind of response. The preachers goal should only be to clearly declare the testimony of God, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, by the Spirit and of power of God. And let's pay attention that Paul continued his message until midnight. So often we go to church, enjoy the "show", and then leave. If it should last longer than a few hours, we start complaining. If we can do other things we enjoy, we should be able to listen to the Word of God with the same enthusiasm and joy, without putting a time restriction on the message.
This brings to mind the time that God lead Nehemiah to the children of Israel, who escaped one of their periods of captivity, to rebuild the wall and city of Jerusalem. When that work was complete, Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. (Nehemiah 8:1-3)
So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose;... And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. [And many others] helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. (Nehemiah 8:4-8) Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads. ... And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one–fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God. (Nehemiah 9:1-3)
The people not only listened to the reading of the Word of God with attentive ears, but the people stood up. The readers weren't shouting or hollering or running around or using props to help explain their message. They just read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. So many times we may go to church and be entertained, but we don't remember anything the preacher said; or we may remember what was said, but we only remember his words, not the Word of God. We have to be sure when we listen to any preacher that we are being fed spiritual food, and spiritual drink. ...that spiritual Rock ..., and that Rock was Christ. (I Corinthians 10:3, 4)
As for the young many who fell asleep and fell out the window, while Paul was speaking for hours, But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted. (Acts 20:10-12) Through the power of God's Holy Spirit in him, Paul was able to revive the young man; and when they returned to the room on the third floor, Paul kept on speaking the gospel message, for many more hours.
Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. (Acts 20:13) Sometimes we just have to be by ourselves. After what had taken place in Troas, that's exactly what Paul did. The others traveling with him took a ship to Assos, but Paul walked. Just as Jesus would sometimes do, He would send the disciples ahead of Him to a place, while He would walk and join them later. The scripture doesn't specify, but more than not these private times were dedicated to prayer and fasting.
And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 20:14-16)
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