Acts 20:12 (KJV)

What does Acts 20:12 mean?

Acts 20:12 describes how the people brought the young man, who had fallen and been presumed dead, back alive, and everyone present was greatly comforted by this outcome. The verse emphasizes the relief and encouragement the group felt after witnessing what could have been a tragedy turn into a moment of joy.

In the setting of Acts 20, Paul is meeting with believers in Troas. Earlier in the chapter, a young man named Eutychus had fallen from a window during Paul's long teaching and was thought to be dead, but Paul assured everyone he was alive. Acts 20:12 records the aftermath, highlighting the group's emotional response and the restoration of the young man to them.

The Greek behind Acts 20:12

• The word for "comforted" is παρακαλέω (parakaleō), which often means to encourage, console, or cheer up. Here, it shows that the group’s spirits were lifted in a deep and meaningful way, not just a mild relief.
• The phrase "not a little" uses οὐ (ou, "not") and μικρός (mikros, "little" or "small"), a Greek way of saying "very much" or "greatly." The verse is stressing just how significant their comfort was.
• The word for "alive" is ζάω (zaō), meaning to live or be alive. The emphasis is on the real, physical restoration of the young man, not just a figurative recovery.

Why Acts 20:12 matters

• Acts 20:12 clears up any doubt about Eutychus’s condition by plainly stating he was alive, underlining the miraculous nature of what happened.
• The verse highlights the emotional impact on the community, showing how closely knit and caring the early believers were for one another.
• This verse connects to the wider passage by showing the power of God at work through Paul and the encouragement such events brought to the early church, reinforcing their faith and unity.