| Acts 20:7 �And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.� By Bible terms a day begins at sundown and ends at the following sundown as is evident by Genesis 1:5, 8, and Mark 1:32. In Biblical times the accepted method for counting was �inclusive�. Remember that the dark part of a day comes first, when you count and record time using this �inclusive� method. This method of counting was used in NT times for common counting and recording of times and ages and scholars also accept universally that was done in exactly the same way during OT (Old Testament) times. Sabbath began at Friday sundown, which was sundown on the 6th day of the week, which began the 7th day of the week, the Sabbath. The Sabbath ran until sundown on the 7th day when it was understood that the dark part, or first part of Sunday, the first day of the week, began. What Luke is saying when he writes this passage is that the Disciples came together on the dark part of (Sunday), �the first day of the week� which, in Biblical terms, was what we now refer to as Saturday night. Verse 8 goes on to say that there were �many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.� This meeting was obviously not being held on Sunday morning because it was dark outside and Paul preached until midnight. The Sabbath had ended and these 1st generation Christians met to eat. The term �break bread� was a common term used in the Jewish community at that point in history to mean �to eat�. It was a daily event for the believers to break bread together; the Scriptures say they broke bread daily: Acts 2:46 �And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,� Paul was traveling a lot at this point in his ministry and he did not think he would be here again to meet with these brothers before his death, which he speaks of in verse 25. Lets look at that verse: Acts 20: 25 �And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.� Paul was giving a long message, but there was a reason, and in verse 25 he explained. We have no records of regular services going all through the night, but Paul is giving what amounts to his farewell blessing and teachings to this group of Christians that he feels he will never see again while he lives. Lets sum up what the Scriptures reveal on their own: 1. This meeting was held on the dark part of the first day of the week (what we now call Saturday night) because Paul was "ready to depart on the morrow." 2. The, "breaking of bread" in itself, has no, "holy day" significance at all, because as the Scriptures already pointed out in Acts 2:46, they �broke bread� daily. 3. None of the Disciples or Apostles present give the slightest indication in this Scripture passage that the first day is holy, or that these first generation Christians considered it so. 4. There is not even the remotest evidence that the seventh day Sabbath had been changed by anyone, including Christ or His Apostles. Neither God, His Son Jesus Christ or these first generation Christians had ever asked anyone to observe, �the first day of the week�, (Sunday) as a holy day for any reason whatever. This meeting seems to be mentioned in the Scriptures to state Paul�s opinion that he would never meet with them alive again, and because of the miracle of raising the boy to life who had fallen out of the window (Acts 20:9,10). By allowing Scripture to not only speak for it self, but also to explain it self, it becomes clear that this nighttime meal was not a Sunday morning Communion Service that many have tried to turn it into. Those who attempt to do this have no Biblical foundation for their claim. Back to Sabbath Index Page Back to Navigation Page |
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