Did the early church worship on Sabbath?

[Leaf473]

When the apostles and elders meet together in acts 15 to decide the question of gentiles, circumcision, and the law of Moses,

it looks like they believe they are guided by the Holy Spirit to make decisions for the whole church

So the big question is,
Was that a one-off thing?
Or was it demonstrating a pattern that when the leaders of the church get together, they are guided by the Holy Spirit to make those kinds of decisions?

"After these things I will return.
I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen.
I will again build its ruins.
I will set it up" Acts 15

 

[SabbathBlessings]

The context was never do they have the authority to countermand God's own Testimony Exo 31:18 that they and us are warned about going away from Isa 8:20

The context was did the Gentiles need to be circumcised in order to be saved

​

Conflict over Circumcision​

Acts 15:1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

What they were correcting is that the Jews were teaching they could save themselves apart from Christ by cutting of their flesh and pushing this on to Gentile converts in order for them to hear the Gospel Gal 2:3 and be saved. This was never the role of circumcision, it could never save anyone. This is what they were correcting, not deciding if they have more authority than God to keep or not keep His commandments.

1 Cor 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

And why they kept God's commandments

Acts 15:21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Both Jews and Gentiles

Acts 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

 

[truthuprootsevil]

Nope.

Christians had been meeting for worship before dawn on Sunday for centuries. They met before dawn because they then had to go to work, since the 1st day of the week was a normal work day. Constantine made it a day of rest in recognition of Christians worshipping on that day. His proclamation makes no reference to worship.

Well I'm not going to argue with you about it. You and those who believe as you can believe as you are they choose and I and those who believe like me can believe as we choose. Too many writings of the past will say that the early Christians before Rome took hold, upheld the Sabbath.

 

[Leaf473]

This is what's on the table in Acts 15

"It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses"

Who would think that this quotation would address that issue? But that's how it is when people are led by the Holy Spirit, their interpretation and understanding of scripture is empowered

After these things I will return.
I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen.
I will again build its ruins.
I will set it up
that the rest of men may seek after the Lord:
all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who does all these things

The law of Moses, as Luke uses it, includes the Ten Commandments

Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself

This is what I told you while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms concerning me must be fulfilled - Luke 24

 

[SabbathBlessings]

There is nothing written in the law and prophets to change God's Sabbath. In the law and prophets we are told not to add to or subtract from the commandments Deut 4:2 God promised not to edit the words of His covenant Psa 89:34 not a jot or tittle Mat 5:18 so one can't use Luke 24 as a means to do away with one of God's commandments if following the law and prophets. His faithful were still keeping the Sabbath according to the commandment Luke 23:56 and He fulfilled everything up to the Cross. Still waiting for Jesus to fulfill all of the law and prophets when it was predicted by His prophets yet to be fulfilled of His soon return.

Acts 15:1 isn't about changing the law and prophets it was about the Jews making gentiles be circumcised in order to be saved. Acts 15:1 meaning they thought they could save themselves apart from Jesus but no one can. This is what Acts 15 is about the apostles were discussing, not whether or not they teach the opposite of what Jesus taught and warned against Mat 5:19-30 Mat 15:3-14 Mark 7:7-13 Mat 7:21-23

 

[prodromos]

Too many writings of the past will say that the early Christians before Rome took hold, upheld the Sabbath

They did not uphold it in the manner of the Jews. That is something you read back into the texts.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

They did not uphold it in the manner of the Jews. That is something you read back into the texts.

Lev 23:3 ‘Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.

Exo 20:88 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Both Jews and Gentiles kept the Sabbath in the same manner as the apostles and of Jesus Luke 4:16 all supporting the commandment of God.

Acts 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

 

[Palmfever]

Not only did the Jews come for Sabbath but the Gentiles, and in Acts we see almost the whole city wanted to be there on the Sabbath.

Acts 13:42-44
King James Version (KJV)
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Now we see the Gentiles keep the Sabbath in Antioch as we see Paul when he came there, meeting with them in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

Acts 13:14
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

We see much the same in the early church in Thessalonica when Paul as was his manner, entered on three Sabbath days and reasoned with them out of the scriptures.

Acts 17:2
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

And we see more of the same in the early church in Corinth were Paul went every Sabbath and we clearly see it says "persuaded the Jews and the Greeks."

Acts 18:4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

And we see it was the same thing that Christ had done when He was in His ministry before Paul.

Mark 6:2
And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Luke 4:16
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Luke 4:31
And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

As had Christ, the Paul worshiped in the early church on the seventh-day Sabbath. We clearly see that in his travels Paul attended the synagogue on the Sabbath with Gentiles and Jews, and preached Christ. Even in places where there was no synagogue, he searched for where the early church met for Sabbath worship.

We find much in history that shows the early church observing the seventh day Sabbath which nearly all Protestant, Orthodox, or Roman Catholic theologians agree was true, and showed that the Sabbath was clearly spread throughout the world in the early church.

Josephus
"There is not any city of the Grecians, nor any of the Barbarians, nor any nation whatsoever, whither our custom of resting on the seventh day hath not come!" M'Clatchie, "Notes and Queries on China and Japan" (edited by Dennys), Vol 4, Nos 7, 8, p.100.

Philo
Declares the seventh day to be a festival, not of this or of that city, but of the universe. M'Clatchie, "Notes and Queries," Vol. 4, 99

Early Christians
"The primitive Christians had a great veneration for the Sabbath, and spent the day in devotion and sermons. And it is not to be doubted but they derived this practice from the Apostles themselves, as appears by several scriptures to the purpose." "Dialogues on the Lord's Day," p. 189. London: 1701, By Dr. T.H. Morer (A Church of England divine).

Early Christians
"...The Sabbath was a strong tie which united them with the life of the whole people, and in keeping the Sabbath holy they followed not only the example but also the command of Jesus." "Geschichte des Sonntags," pp.13, 14

2nd Century Christians
"The Gentile Christians observed also the Sabbath," Gieseler's "Church History," Vol.1, ch. 2, par. 30, 93.

Early Christians
"The primitive Christians did keep the Sabbath of the Jews;...therefore the Christians, for a long time together, did keep their conventions upon the Sabbath, in which some portions of the law were read: and this continued till the time of the Laodicean council." "The Whole Works" of Jeremy Taylor, Vol. IX,p. 416 (R. Heber's Edition, Vol XII, p. 416).

You can find even more in this study..
at https://www.sabbath.org/index.cfm/l...ath-first-day-during-first-five-centuries.htm

The scriptures of Christ speaking are old testament.
I have no problem with the sabbath. As Paul states, "One man esteems one day over the other..."

Found rhis online.

"Scripture never mentions any Sabbath (Saturday) gatherings by believers for fellowship or worship. However, there are clear passages that mention the first day of the week, Sunday. For instance, Acts 20:7 states that “on the first day of the week we came together to break bread.” Paul also urges the Corinthian believers, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Since Paul designates this offering as “service” in 2 Corinthians 9:12, this collection may have been linked with the Sunday worship service of the Christian assembly. Historically, Sunday, not Saturday, was the normal meeting day for Christians in the church, and its practice dates back to the first century.

Christians worship on Sundays in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is very important to remember, though, Sunday worship is not commanded in the Bible, and Sunday has not replaced Saturday and become the Christian Sabbath. While the New Testament describes Christians gathering and worshiping on Sundays, it nowhere states that Sunday has replaced Saturday as the Sabbath. The key point in all of this is that we are not to limit our worship to any particular day of the week. We are to rest in the Lord every day. We are to worship the Lord every day."

 

[Leaf473]

Regarding what was happening in Acts 15, it's not about deleting something from the law and the prophets

It's about the proper understanding of the scriptures

Is that arrived at by the individuals involved? The apostles and elders feel it should be by the group.

Was that a one-off experience? Or a pattern for how the church is supposed to function?

Romans 15:5
Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus

 

[SabbathBlessings]

The scriptures of Christ speaking are old testament.
I have no problem with the sabbath. As Paul states, "One man esteems one day over the other..."

Found rhis online.

"Scripture never mentions any Sabbath (Saturday) gatherings by believers for fellowship or worship. However, there are clear passages that mention the first day of the week, Sunday. For instance, Acts 20:7 states that “on the first day of the week we came together to break bread.” Paul also urges the Corinthian believers, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Since Paul designates this offering as “service” in 2 Corinthians 9:12, this collection may have been linked with the Sunday worship service of the Christian assembly. Historically, Sunday, not Saturday, was the normal meeting day for Christians in the church, and its practice dates back to the first century.

Christians worship on Sundays in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is very important to remember, though, Sunday worship is not commanded in the Bible, and Sunday has not replaced Saturday and become the Christian Sabbath. While the New Testament describes Christians gathering and worshiping on Sundays, it nowhere states that Sunday has replaced Saturday as the Sabbath. The key point in all of this is that we are not to limit our worship to any particular day of the week. We are to rest in the Lord every day. We are to worship the Lord every day."

We should worship God every day 24/7 365, but Jesus considers what false worship as keeping our rules over keeping the commandments of God quoting right from the Ten Commandments Mat 15:3-14 Mark 7:7-13 and true worship or the state of a saved person as keeping God's commandments Rev 14:12 not to be saved but because someone who is saved doesn't rebel against God's laws Rom 8:7-8 but through love and faith obey Him John 14:15 1 John 5:3 Rev 14:12 which reconciles us Rev 22:14

While the apostles did break bread on late Saturday evening after sundown or what they called the first day in bible times, they broke bread daily Acts 2:46 which just means have a meal and it says nothing about the a change in one of God's commandments.

Regarding the Sabbath not being in the NT, that's the furthest thing from the truth.

The Sabbath is mentioned over 50 times Jesus Himself keeping who is our example to follow Luke 4:16 John 15:10 1 John 2:6 saying it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath Mark 3:4 meaning there are things we can do on the Sabbath that are unlawful and meaning its still God's law. And the Sabbath was still kept according to the commandment Luke 23:56 The gospels show Sabbath keeping all through out and the apostles keeping every Sabbath with the Gentiles every Sabbath decades after the Cross because God's people keep God's commandments even if its not popular by the majority Rev 14:12 Rev 12:17 Rev 22:14

Acts 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Only God can bless something Gen 2:1-3 Exo 20:11 Isa 56:2 and only God can take away His blessings Num 23:20 which He never did Isa 66:23 Mat 24:20 only God can sanctify a day Exo 20:11 Gen 2:1-3 only God can sanctify us Eze 20:12 both of these are related to the Sabbath and we can't sanctify ourselves Isa 66:17, we need God.

It was never the Sabbath of the Jews God claimed it as My holy day, the holy day of the Lord thus saith the Lord Isa 58:13 meaning there is no other day, just one. The day God claimed in His own Testimony Exo 31:18, not the one man assigned to God He said was for work and labors Exo 20:9

The article you posted is right about one thing, Sunday is not a commandment of God, but wrong that Sabbath keeping isn't when it was written by God Himself Exo 20:8-11 Its a matter of following the popular traditions Jesus warned us about or staying faithful to Him. Its all about choices

 

[truthuprootsevil]

They did not uphold it in the manner of the Jews. That is something you read back into the texts.

The Disciples Kept the Sabbath 85 Times in the book of Acts – EliYah Ministries

eliyah.com

Did Paul Change the Sabbath?

Who changed the seventh-day Sabbath to Sunday? Was it the apostle Paul? What does the Bible say about Paul’s personal example regarding the Sabbath?

lifehopeandtruth.com

Did Christians Keep the Sabbath in the Book of Acts?

In this article, I take a look at an article that doesn't seem worth the time, but sadly some fall for the horrible arguments presented inside.

biblemirror.com

Now you're saying a the first and early churches didn't uphold the Sabbath in the same manner as the Jews, that's a change, Ok whatever you say.

 

[prodromos]

The Council of Laodicea states in canon 29:

The Council was codifying what was stated by St Ignatius in the early to mid 2nd Century

If Christians were already keeping Sunday instead of the commandment of God where God commanded to keep the seventh day Sabbath holy, there would have been no need in the late 300's to have a decree to not keep the Sabbath, if no one was keeping it.. Obviously there were still faithful Christians obeying God over popular traditions of man.

There were, unfortunately, still Christians who were Judaising, just as there are today.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

The Council was codifying what was stated by St Ignatius in the early to mid 2nd Century

My faith and loyalty is to God.

There were, unfortunately, still Christians who were Judaising, just as there are today.

Not unfortunately, faithfully, just like Daniel and his friends when a decree went out that went against one of God’s commandments, they stayed faithful. This is the faith that reconciles us back to God Rev 14:12 Rev 22:14 following traditions Jesus said in His own words over obeying the commandments of God quoting from the Ten Commandments sadly warned those who teach and follow end up in a ditch Mat 15:3-14

 

[prodromos]

Acts 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Where else would you expect Paul to find large numbers of faithful Jews and Gentile converts to Judaism than in the synagogue on the Sabbath? He wanted to reach as many as possible. On any other day there would have only been a few people in the synagogue, so naturally he preached there on the Sabbath.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Where else would you expect Paul to find large numbers of faithful Jews and Gentile converts to Judaism than in the synagogue on the Sabbath? He wanted to reach as many as possible. On any other day there would have only been a few people in the synagogue, so naturally he preached there on the Sabbath.

I doesn’t seem like you are reading the Text. It was the Gentiles asking for more preaching the word of God on the next Sabbath, instead of asking for it the next day.

Did the apostles correct them, to say we don’t “Judasize” we now keep the first day. Was that stated anywhere any Scripture?

Acts 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

Of course not because God’s people keep God’s commandments

Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

Why both Jews and Gentiles kept every Sabbath with the apostles because God’s people keep God’s commandments Rev 14:12
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Guess the apostles were “judaziers“ as was Jesus - He calls it love and being faithful Exo 20:6 John 14:15 1 John 5:3 Rev 14:12 Rev 22:14 but we were warned this would happen Rev 12:17

It’s all a mater of faith, but one can’t make an argument from Scripture about Sunday sacredness, its no where in Scripture came long after just as the apostles warned Acts 20:29 like the decree to do the opposite of what God commanded. It’s a matter of faith, shall we obey God and keep His commandments or follow what everyone else is doing, even through that has never worked out once for anyone in Scripture, but we have free will. When Jesus comes though all of our decisions will be final Rev 22:11. I would consider what the God of the Bible commanded that Jesus as our example kept along with His faithful followers, disciples and apostles.

 

[Leaf473]

I'm thinking the synagogue wasn't open every day of the week. I don't think just anyone could decide to hold a meeting there. It would be at the invitation of the synagogue leaders, I would think

But the marketplace in Athens was open every day, and Paul made full use of that

he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him

 

[SabbathBlessings]

We can convince ourselves of anything, or we can just trust the Word of God the way it reads, that the apostles were followers of Christ Luke 4:16 John 15:10, which is what a Christian is. I choose the later.

Even when there were no churches in the area, the apostles still honored the Sabbath

Acts 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.

The mere fact the Sabbath was still called the Sabbath, that God personally named and defined for us calling it the Holy Day of the Lord Isa 58:13 , means nothing changed with God's Sabbath in the NT. That all happen after Scripture just as we were warned. 2 Timothy 4:3

 

[Leaf473]

I mentioned earlier that Paul shaved his head. We don't generally follow that

Amen to trusting the word of God in its entirety

Psalm 25:10
All the paths of the Lord are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies

 

[Palmfever]

We should worship God every day 24/7 365, but Jesus considers what false worship as keeping our rules over keeping the commandments of God quoting right from the Ten Commandments Mat 15:3-14 Mark 7:7-13 and true worship or the state of a saved person as keeping God's commandments Rev 14:12 not to be saved but because someone who is saved doesn't rebel against God's laws Rom 8:7-8 but through love and faith obey Him John 14:15 1 John 5:3 Rev 14:12 which reconciles us Rev 22:14

While the apostles did break bread on late Saturday evening after sundown or what they called the first day in bible times, they broke bread daily Acts 2:46 which just means have a meal and it says nothing about the a change in one of God's commandments.

Regarding the Sabbath not being in the NT, that's the furthest thing from the truth.

The Sabbath is mentioned over 50 times Jesus Himself keeping who is our example to follow Luke 4:16 John 15:10 1 John 2:6 saying it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath Mark 3:4 meaning there are things we can do on the Sabbath that are unlawful and meaning its still God's law. And the Sabbath was still kept according to the commandment Luke 23:56 The gospels show Sabbath keeping all through out and the apostles keeping every Sabbath with the Gentiles every Sabbath decades after the Cross because God's people keep God's commandments even if its not popular by the majority Rev 14:12 Rev 12:17 Rev 22:14

Acts 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Only God can bless something Gen 2:1-3 Exo 20:11 Isa 56:2 and only God can take away His blessings Num 23:20 which He never did Isa 66:23 Mat 24:20 only God can sanctify a day Exo 20:11 Gen 2:1-3 only God can sanctify us Eze 20:12 both of these are related to the Sabbath and we can't sanctify ourselves Isa 66:17, we need God.

It was never the Sabbath of the Jews God claimed it as My holy day, the holy day of the Lord thus saith the Lord Isa 58:13 meaning there is no other day, just one. The day God claimed in His own Testimony Exo 31:18, not the one man assigned to God He said was for work and labors Exo 20:9

The article you posted is right about one thing, Sunday is not a commandment of God, but wrong that Sabbath keeping isn't when it was written by God Himself Exo 20:8-11 Its a matter of following the popular traditions Jesus warned us about or staying faithful to Him. Its all about choices

Of course Jesus kept it. That was one of His principle reasons for coming. To fullfill the law without blemish. He was still old testament.
Keep which ever day you chose. To me they are all the same.

 

[JSRG]

The Disciples Kept the Sabbath 85 Times in the book of Acts – EliYah Ministries

eliyah.com

Did Paul Change the Sabbath?

Who changed the seventh-day Sabbath to Sunday? Was it the apostle Paul? What does the Bible say about Paul’s personal example regarding the Sabbath?

lifehopeandtruth.com

Did Christians Keep the Sabbath in the Book of Acts?

In this article, I take a look at an article that doesn't seem worth the time, but sadly some fall for the horrible arguments presented inside.

biblemirror.com

Now you're saying a the first and early churches didn't uphold the Sabbath in the same manner as the Jews, that's a change, Ok whatever you say.

The third of these three links is an argument against what appears to be your position. In fact, it's a direct refutation of the first link you posted.