In Acts 20:8 Luke describes the place where the Christians in Troas gathered. “And there were MANY LIGHTS in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.”
It was simply labeled “an upper chamber.” The highest part of a house, sometimes even a large room built on a flat roof!
They congregated, not in a Church building, but in someone’s home. (This group is nowhere called a “Church,” as far as I can tell. But based on Matthew 18:20, the Lord was meeting with them anyway, no matter the nomenclature! “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Today I am interested in one phrase that describes the lecture hall (upper room) where Paul preached that now famous Lord’s Day. There were “many lights” there!
One reason this curious fact is so carefully listed might be the detrimental charge often leveled against first century Christians that they met “in the dark” and “committed abominable acts.” Including eating flesh and drinking blood! (So said the enemies of the Gospel, lying obviously.)
So Luke lets it be know that they at Troas met in a well lighted place. Though at night, still brightly illuminated!
Another reason we are told about these “many lights” could be the fact that (if the room were small and the crowd packed in there) such lights (lamps with burning wicks fed by olive oil) would have consumed some of the available oxygen. (Maybe that’s why the window was open, not closed at all, for ventilation purposes.) This could also help explain why a certain young man fell asleep, for even slight oxygen deprivation makes one groggy!
The bright lights would also have aided fellowship among these Christians, communing one with another. That being one valid purpose for our gatherings anyway. In Hebrews 10:25 Paul calls our Church Meetings an “assembling of ourselves together!” Many lights, promoting one believer “exhorting” his seat mate and vice versa. (Proverb s 27:17 … “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”) Add here Hebrews 3:13 … “Exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened .”
And yes … even with these practical (and valid) reasons for “many lights” … today I’d still like to speak of them being present in the Service that night metaphorically!
Like this: the LIGHT of the Word of God was present! Paul himself being the speaker, preacher. Psalm 119:130 … “The entrance of thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
The attendees that night were also “lights” in their dark world! Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount … “Ye are the light of the world.” Amazing, Matthew 5:14!
The Holy Spirit (undoubtedly in that room that night) was also a Light! “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13, His illuminating Ministry! (Since Genesis 1:2 the Holy Spirit has been dispelling darkness! “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”)
Yes, that night it was typically dark outside … but very bright inside where God’s people were hearing the Word!
Do remember in Egypt, during the plague of darkness … “But all the children of Israel had LIGHT in their dwellings.” Exodus 10:23
And spiritually … “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19
When you go to Church Sunday (or Wednesday night) … notice the “lights” there! In fact, the “many lights!”
And thank God for them!
“And how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14, a preacher sharing the “light” of God’s Truth, God’s Word!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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