Here it is, although I'm doubtful you'll acknowledge it...
Acts 13:44
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Have you wondered why the apostles waited a whole week to teach those desiring knowledge? This passage was clear instruction to the church that the seventh day Sabbath was for the purpose of gathering for teaching, fellowship and worship. Oh sure, you'll say "where does it say to worship?" Line upon line, precept upon precept.....
Great scripture, and thanks for posting it.
Yes line upon line, precept upon precept, which of course is a reference to building doctrine with context, each line establishing and building upon another.
Brother, look at the context of verse 44.
Like I said before, it was Paul’s custom to start in the synagogue with the Jews and proselyts to teach them from the OT scriptures about the Messiah, in order to get them to believe.
Please stop taking this out of context, because these Jews who gathered in a synagogue on the Sabbath were unsaved, and were following the law of Moses.
Here is your scripture in context.
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and
went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15 And after
the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men
and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with
his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. 18 Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. 19 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.
20 “After that He gave
them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the
son of Jesse, a man after My
own heart, who will do all My will.’ 23 From this man’s seed, according to
the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus— 24 after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not
He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’
26 “Men
and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled
them in condemning
Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death
in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took
Him down from the tree and laid
Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.’
34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus:
‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’
35 Therefore He also says in another
Psalm:
‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’
36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
Behold, you despisers,
Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days,
A work which you will by no means believe,
Though one were to declare it to you.’”
42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:14-52
Again, please read the context.
So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
45 But
when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.
Again the Jews and proselytes who gathered on the Sabbath, were unsaved, unbelievers, not the Church gathering to worship Jesus.
Furthermore the Jews opposed the message of the Gospel, and stirred up the city against Paul, blaspheming and contradicting his message.
The whole city had never heard these things before and wanted to hear more, so they went back to the synagogue where they thought Paul would be, to hear what Paul said because they were hungry for the word, not because there was a commandment from Jesus or the Apostles to gather on the Sabbath to worship Jesus, but because they were drawn by the Spirit to hear about God’s kingdom and eternal life.
Please read these things in context, and don’t be persuaded by false teachers.
You are free to worship on whatever day you want.
The Lord knows man needs to rest each week and has made a day for that.
If you are convinced to gather with brothers and sisters to worship on Saturday then do so, if Sunday or Wednesday or what ever day then do so.
Each person should be convinced about this matter in their own mind.
As Paul gave instruction about this -
- One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
One person esteems
one day above another; another esteems every day
alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes
it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe
it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Romans 14:5-10
JLB