Sabbath

Messiah Yahshua and the apostles lived and taught in a Sabbath-keeping society. Yahshua’s confrontations
with the Pharisees were over how to observe the Sabbath, never over whether to observe it.
When the apostles took their message beyond the confines of Judea, Sabbath observance was well known in
other parts of the Roman Empire. The Jewish historian Josephus, during the time of the New Testament
Church, wrote, “…The multitude of mankind itself have had a great inclination for a long time to follow our
religious observances; for 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…As God himself pervades all the
world, so hath our law passed through all the world also” (Against Apion, 2,40).
The examples of Yahshua and the apostles confirm that they believed in and obeyed all of the Ten
Commandments. Throughout the book of Acts---written by Luke, a gentile---the Sabbath and the annual
Sabbaths described in Leviticus 23 are mentioned quite routinely (Acts 13:14, 42, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4, 21;
20:6, 16; 27:9). Whether to observe them simply wasn’t a question.
Historical record in Acts
Out of all Paul’s writings, the three passages discussed earlier in this chapter are the ones commonly used in
attempting to prove he did away with Sabbath observance. However, as we have seen, two of those passages do
not even mention the Sabbath, and the third confirms that gentile believers were actually keeping the Sabbath,
since Paul told them not to let themselves be judged for how they kept it.
But, in addition to Paul’s word, his actions showed that he never intended to abolish or change the Sabbath
and that he observed it himself.
Acts 13 records that, 10 to 15 years after Paul was miraculously converted, he and his companions traveled to
Antioch in Asia Minor, where they were “going into the synagogue on the day of the Sabbath” (verse 14). After
being invited to speak to the congregation, he addressed both Jew and gentile proselytes (verse 16), describing
how the coming of Messiah Yahshua had been foretold throughout the Old Testament Scriptures.
His message was received so enthusiastically that, “the Jews having gone out of the synagogue, the gentiles
begged that these words be spoken to them on the next Sabbath” (verse 42). Notice that the gentiles in
attendance wanted Paul to teach them more about Messiah on the next Sabbath. Why? Because these Gentiles
were clearly already keeping the Sabbath with the Jews in the synagogue!
What was Paul’s response to the gentiles’ request? “And in the coming Sabbath, almost all the city gathered
to hear the word of Yahweh” (verse 44). Had Paul not believed in the Sabbath, he could have easily told them
to come the next day or any other day and he would teach them. Instead, he waited until the following Sabbath,
when “almost all the city,” Jew and gentile alike, came out to hear his message!
The gentiles of the city, hearing that Paul had been commissioned to preach the gospel to the gentiles,
“rejoiced and glorified the word of Yahweh. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed”
(verses 45-48). The Sabbath commanded by Yahweh, was the normal day for rest, assembly and instruction in
Yahweh’s was of life.
About five years later, in what is today Greece, Paul “came through Thessalonica, where a synagogue of the
Jews was. And according to Paul’s custom, he went into them and reasoned with them from the Scriptures on
three Sabbaths, opening and setting forth that the Messiah must have suffered, and to have risen from the dead;
and that this is the Messiah, Yahshua whom I announce to you” (Acts 17:1-3). Here, some 20 years after
Yahshua’s death and resurrection, Paul’s custom was still to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath, there to
discuss the Scriptures and teach about Messiah Yahshua!
He continued to teach both Jews and gentiles: “And some of them were persuaded; and joined themselves to
Paul and Silas, both a great multitude of the worshiping Greeks, and not a few of the leading women (verse 4).
Paul, specifically commissioned to preach the gospel to the gentiles (Acts 9:15; 13:47), taught the gentiles in the
synagogues on the Sabbath!
Several years later he went to the Grecian city of Corinth, where “he reasoned in the synagogue on every
Sabbath persuading both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 18:4). Later still he went to Ephesus in Asia Minor, where
“going into the synagogue, he spoke boldly over three months, having reasoned with them, and persuading
concerning the things of the kingdom of Yahweh” (Acts 19:8).
26