John Calvin Commentary Acts 20:9

"And there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, borne down with deep sleep; and as Paul discoursed yet longer, being borne down by his sleep he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead." — Acts 20:9 (ASV)

When he was fallen into a deep sleep. I see no reason why some interpreters should so harshly and sharply condemn the young man's drowsiness, to the point of saying that he was punished for his laziness by death. For is it any wonder if, since the night was so well advanced and having struggled so long against sleep, he finally yielded?

And since, against his will and unexpectedly, he was overcome by deep sleep, we may gather from this that he did not intentionally prepare to sleep. To seek out a suitable place to sleep would have been a sign of laziness; but to be overcome with sleep while sitting at a window, what else is it but blamelessly yielding to nature?

It is as if a man should faint from hunger or too much weariness. Those who, being engrossed in worldly cares, come to the word reluctantly; those who, being full of food and wine, are thereby made sleepy; those who are attentive enough in other matters, but hear the word as though they did not care for it, will be justly condemned for drowsiness. But Luke does in plain words acquit Eutychus when he says that he fell down, being overcome with deep sleep after midnight.

Moreover, the Lord intended not only by the sleep, but also by the death of this young man, to awaken and stir up the faith of His people, so that they might more joyfully receive Paul’s doctrine and keep it deeply rooted in their minds. It was, indeed, at first no small temptation, but such as might have severely shaken even a most steadfast man. For who would have thought that Christ was the chief governor in that company where a man died tragically from a fall? Who would not rather have thought this to be a sign of God’s curse? But the Lord, by providing a remedy, immediately frees the minds of His people from all disturbance.