Now let�s look at the other popular belief that Paul worshiped on Sunday. Not only is this belief held by the average Christian but also by many scholars. Let�s look at the popular belief first and then explore the reason for the scholarly assumption. From one of Rabbi Barn�s sermon�s we find several arguments to this question. Acts 13:42 �And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the gentiles asked Paul that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.� Acts 17:2 �Paul, as his custom was, went to them, and 3 Sabbaths reasoned with them.� Acts 18:4 �Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath & persuaded Jews & Greeks (Sermon, sent to the author).� We also find in Acts 28:17 �And it came to pass, that after three days, Paul called together the chief of the Jews.� �And when they were assembled, he said to them, Men, brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet I was
delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans (Webster�s Bible).� It should be apparent from these verses that Paul did indeed observe the Sabbath. My best witness is Paul himself, for from his own mouth he tells the Jew�s that he has observed the Law (committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers).
Now let�s deal with the scholarly argument. In Acts 20:7-12 we read,
7. �And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.� 8. �And there were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered together.� 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.� 10. �And Paul went down, and fell on him and embracing him said, Make ye no ado; for his life is in him.� 11. �And when he was gone up, and had broken the bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.� 12. �And they brought the lad alive, and were not a little comforted (American Standard Version).�
A lot of scholars will point to this section and make reference of it to the first Sunday service. Samuele Bacchiocchi in his book From Sabbath To Sunday, tells us on page 102 that, �Fundamental importance is attributed to this passage inasmuch as it contains the only explicit New testament reference to a Christian gathering conducted on the first day of the week�to break bread Acts 20:7.� He goes on to say �F. F. Bruce, for instance, affirms that this statement �is the earliest unambiguous evidence we have for the Christian practice of gathering together for worship on that day
(Commentary on the Book of the Acts. pp. 407-408).�
But there are some holes in this argument. Remember the narrative tells us that Paul prolonged his speech until after midnight when many were napping like poor Eutychus. After Eutychus fell out of the window he was brought up dead. Paul then lies upon him and brings him back to life. Then they break bread. And Paul talked until
