Does Acts 20:7 teach that that the Lord's Supper should be weekly?

[Dietrich Johnson]

I'm wondering if the Bible teaches that the Lord's Supper is really intended to be a weekly event. Some utilize Acts 20:7 in particular to argue that the Lord's Supper should be weekly. Does the Bible teach that the Lord's Supper should be weekly?

 

[BobRyan]

I'm wondering if the Bible teaches that the Lord's Supper is really intended to be a weekly event. Some utilize Acts 20:7 in particular to argue that the Lord's Supper should be weekly. Does the Bible teach that the Lord's Supper should be weekly?

Acts 20 does not say they did anything at all weekly - only that on one particular weekend where Paul was going to be traveling all day Sunday - they had a Saturday evening meeting which would be the evening of the first day of the week. But it does not say they did that every Saturday evening. Rather the author has to give an explanation for why they are having that evening meeting .. as follows --

6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and reached them at Troas within five days; and we stayed there for seven days. 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were gathered together. 9 And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep

What we don't see there is
"week day one which we now call the Lord's Day"...
"we meet every week day one to break bread and so on this occassion..."
"during our weekly - week day one meeting to break bread Paul began to speak.."

 

[Dietrich Johnson]

Some argue that it is implied in scripture by "upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread" (Acts 20:7) that the Lord's Supper should be weekly.

 

[Soyeong]

I'm wondering if the Bible teaches that the Lord's Supper is really intended to be a weekly event. Some utilize Acts 20:7 in particular to argue that the Lord's Supper should be weekly. Does the Bible teach that the Lord's Supper should be weekly?

In Acts 20:7, it says that they gathered together to break bread on the 1st day of the week. It does not say anything about the Lord's Supper. Furthermore, it does not say anything about this meeting being part of a new tradition, and even if it was part of a new tradition, it does not say anything about how frequently they met, and even if they were meeting once a week, it doesn't say that they were meeting on the 1st day of the week instead of obeying God's command to keep the 7th day holy, and even if they were hypocritically setting aside the commands of God in order to establish their own tradition, it wouldn't mean that we should follow their example of sin. The Lord's Supper was instructed as part of a Passover Seder, which is an annual tradition.

 

[Kilk1]

Acts 20 does not say they did anything at all weekly - only that on one particular weekend where Paul was going to be traveling all day Sunday - they had a Saturday evening meeting which would be the evening of the first day of the week. But it does not say they did that every Saturday evening. Rather the author has to give an explanation for why they are having that evening meeting .. as follows --

6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and reached them at Troas within five days; and we stayed there for seven days. 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were gathered together. 9 And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep

What we don't see there is
"week day one which we now call the Lord's Day"...
"we meet every week day one to break bread and so on this occassion..."
"during our weekly - week day one meeting to break bread Paul began to speak.."

I've heard the view you're taking, that "the first day of the week" actually means Saturday evening because of Jewish calendars. However, would the fact that Paul intended to depart the "next day" (Acts 20:7, NKJV) and then departs after sunrise (v. 11) suggest that Acts is using our method of determining days, where each day starts and ends at midnight, as opposed to the Jewish method of days changing at sundown? Otherwise, if it were the Jewish calendar, waiting till "the next day" would have meant waiting till the next sundown, right?

Due to these thoughts, I understand Acts 20:7's reference to the "first day of the week" to simply mean Sunday rather than Saturday evening.

 

[rstrats]

As Soyeong touched on, nothing indicates that the breaking of bread is referring to the Lord's supper.

 

[BrotherJJ]

I'm wondering if the Bible teaches that the Lord's Supper is really intended to be a weekly event. Some utilize Acts 20:7 in particular to argue that the Lord's Supper should be weekly. Does the Bible teach that the Lord's Supper should be weekly?

Temple Shewbread also called bread of the Presence: Eaten WEEKLY by the Priests

Lev 24:
5 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.

8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
(MY NOTE: The Priests were to Eat the Shewbread/Bread of the Presence WEEKLY)

Amplified Bible (AMP) - The parenthesis was placed by the translators, not me. Source links provided

Acts 20:
6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread (Passover week), and within five days we reached them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

7 Now on the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread (share communion), Paul began talking with them, intending to leave the next day; and he kept on with his message until midnight.
Bible Gateway passage: Acts 20 - Amplified Bible

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) Bible

Acts 7:
6 and we sailed, after the days of the unleavened food, from Philippi, and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we abode seven days

7 On Sunday[a] we all met together to eat the Lord’s Supper. Paul talked to the group. Because he was planning to leave the next day, he continued talking until midnight.
Bible Gateway passage: Acts 20 - Easy-to-Read Version

Jn 6:
48 Jesus said; I am that bread of life.

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

1 Cor 11:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
(MY NOTE: Jesus took the bread & BROKE it)

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
(MY NOTE: Every time you BREAK & Drink the cup. It's a memorial of My sin payment)

I see compelling evidence for WEEKLY

(1) Temple priests ate the Shewbread/Bread of the Presence WEEKLY.

(2) Two Bible version that say: The believers met on Sunday to celebrate the Lord's death & resurrection. Partook WEEKLY in the Lord's supper/communion.

(3) Jesus's life sustaining presents is in this communion Bread breaking.

(4) The Lord instructed as often as you do this (we meet weekly) it's a memorial of your coming redemption.

 

[Blade]

Maybe do what Christ said.. as often as you do this.. do it ever day if you want praise GOD or once a year..

 

[BobRyan]

Some argue that it is implied in scripture by "upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread" (Acts 20:7) that the Lord's Supper should be weekly.

Agreed - there is inference that people read into it.

But is naming a day of the week supposed to mean that it happens every week or just that on that week it happened on that day. Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week... but it does not mean "weekly"

But that would bring up a few questions..
1. If this is the one time when we are supposed to find "each week day one we meet to break bread" - then why not say it - since this is the only text that one might have for such a thing?
2. IF this is the one time in all of scripture where we are supposed to find that week day 1 is the Lord's day - why keep calling it "week day 1"?? and never "The Lord's day"?
3. IF there was some big change to God's TEN Commandments where the Sabbath commandment is to be repointed at "week day 1" (or abolished and then replaced by week-day-1) is that not significant enough to at least "mention" now that we are on a meeting that takes place on a week-day 1???

 

[Jonaitis]

I'm wondering if the Bible teaches that the Lord's Supper is really intended to be a weekly event. Some utilize Acts 20:7 in particular to argue that the Lord's Supper should be weekly. Does the Bible teach that the Lord's Supper should be weekly?

The church body I belong to believes that it does, and has done it since our founding in 2005 when we were still meeting in homes.

 

[Jipsah]

Does the Bible teach that the Lord's Supper should be weekly?

I prefer daily.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I'm wondering if the Bible teaches that the Lord's Supper is really intended to be a weekly event. Some utilize Acts 20:7 in particular to argue that the Lord's Supper should be weekly. Does the Bible teach that the Lord's Supper should be weekly?

Scripture doesn't say how frequently the Supper should be celebrated. If it were up to me (and it isn't), I'd prefer the Lord's Supper every day; that every day I may be sustained by the living-giving flesh and blood of the Savior.

Throughout history, however, frequency has changed depending on time and place.

What is biblical, however, is when the Supper is celebrated, we ought to partake with full reverence for what is taking place here.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ChetSinger]

Justin Martyr in the 2nd century describes a weekly service where "bread and wine and water" are brought out:

“And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the overseer verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things.

Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the overseer in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.

And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the overseer, who provides for the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.

But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead.”​

It sounds to me as if he might be describing a weekly Lord's Supper. Does anyone know if there is a consensus on this?

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Acts 20:7 On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.

The Lord, Jesus Christ, said "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)

"This do in remembrance of me" implies that one ought to do the Lord's supper as often as one wants to remember the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Soyeong]

Maybe do what Christ said.. as often as you do this.. do it ever day if you want praise GOD or once a year..

Acts 20:7 On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.

The Lord, Jesus Christ, said "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)

"This do in remembrance of me" implies that one ought to do the Lord's supper as often as one wants to remember the Lord Jesus Christ.

The "this" he was referring to was a Passover Seder, which is an annual festival. He was not saying to celebrate Passover as often as you want.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

The "this" he was referring to was a Passover Seder, which is an annual festival. He was not saying to celebrate Passover as often as you want.

Looks like the Lord was referring to what he did in verse 19. "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you:"