Sabbath in the Bible New Testament

It is often considered that the Sabbath should be observed on the first day of the week to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection.

However, this practice is not biblical. The New Testament does not command that the Sabbath be changed.

Acts 20:7 is often cited in support of the first day of the week because Christians met on that day.

Yet, that day was not a worship service. More about this later.

1 Corinthians 16:2 is another verse which records Christians setting aside money on the first day of the week. This is interpreted as being the new Sabbath. But how true is this?

We do not find any clear command for Christians to observe the Sabbath on the first day of the week in the New Testament.

Others claim that we have the freedom to observe any day as the Sabbath.

Again, we must go to the Bible and listen to the Word of God, and not the interpretation of people.

Table of Contents

Jesus and the apostles kept the Sabbath

While on Earth, Jesus kept the Sabbath and His apostles too. He never changed the Sabbath to the first day of the week. (Acts 13:42,44, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4)

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 4:16 KJV

Jesus clarified the Sabbath

In Matthew 12:3-8, Jesus rebuked the religious leaders who objected to the apostles picking corn and Jesus’ healing a man’s hand on the Sabbath.

He clarified the true definition of the Sabbath, that it was made for man, to do good and help those in need.

Paul observed the Sabbath

In all his journeys, Paul observed the Sabbath and never mentioned anything about the change of it to the first day of the week.

Act 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.

Act 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Act 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Act 16:13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

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

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

KJV BIBLE

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.
KJV

In Hebrew culture, a day starts when the sun sets, and finishes at the next sunset. (Genesis 1:5, Leviticus 23:32).

This verse is in no way proof that the Sabbath was changed to the first day of the week. If we research closer, the apostles were breaking bread every day. (Acts 2:46)

Here is simply what we call today Saturday evening. Paul was getting ready to travel the next day. If it were the Sabbath, he wouldn’t do that because the Sabbath is a day of rest.

1 Corinthians 16:2

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Again, this verse does not prove that the Sabbath is now on the first day of the week. Here is simply a request for help for other Christians.

This is not a worship service! Paul intended to pick up those donations while travelling to Jerusalem. More about this can be found in Romans 15:25-26.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sabbath in the New Testament, in the Bible is still on Saturday or the seventh day of the week as it always was. (Exodus 20:8-11)

While people may interpret that the first day of the week is now the new Sabbath, their claims are not based on the Bible.

If the Sabbath were to be changed, we would have seen it all over the New Testament.

In fact, a search on a Bible app for the word “Sabbath” gives us a result of 55 verses.

Whereas the “first day” of the week appears only in 8-9 verses. The majority of those are referring to the resurrection day and do not mention anything about the changing of the Sabbath.

Think about it – God wrote His Ten Commandments in stone for a reason! (Exodus 31:18)

He wants to demonstrate that His Law is unchangeable. And the Sabbath is the fourth commandment. (Exodus 20:8-11)

My Letter To A Sunday Keeper – Sabbath Documentary