Sabbath vs Sunday: Part 3 – Sabbath Worship is the New Testament Biblical Pattern

The most significant argument made or used by Christians to justify worshiping on Sunday rather than on the Sabbath is because it is claimed Sunday worship is the New Testament pattern.  The previous article from this series dealt with this misunderstanding that Sunday was a newly established pattern.  This article presents the clear examples in the New Testament that demonstrate that the pattern of Sabbath worship continued from the days of the Messiah. 

When one carefully reads through the book of Acts, it will be observed that a striking pattern exists showing that believers were meeting on the Sabbath days and were assembling in the synagogues / temple.  There is no indication that the believers had changed any of their worship practices:

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. - Acts 3:1

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.  And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. – Acts 5:11-12

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.  And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. - Ac 9:19-20

In Acts 13, Paul is sent out on his first missionary journey. As this was the first description of what Paul did as he travelled to each city, more information is provided. The reader should pay careful attention to the details as they should be used to fill in the gaps of his future actions. There is no reason to think he did anything different than what has already been told to the reader. When Paul arrived in Antioch in Pisidia, the reader is told that he not only attended the weekly Sabbath synagogue service, but also participated in it, which included Paul preaching:

But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.  And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. – Acts 13:14-16

After the Sabbath service was complete, Paul was encouraged by Gentiles who had also attended the service to preach a similar message the following Sabbath. 

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

If Paul’s purpose of preaching in the synagogue was to “evangelize” so that individuals could be saved and bring to God proper worship, part of his message would have been to tell those interested in hearing more, to meet with them on Sunday.  But Paul never tells them this.  Rather we do not see any further interaction with those in Antioch in Pisidia until the following Sabbath when everyone, including Paul was gathered together again.

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

Again, all we see Paul doing is interacting with others on the Sabbath. If Sunday worship were so important, he would have immediately gathered the new believers together to meet with God on the “new” day God has appointed for worship. But we never see new converts instructed that the day of worship needs to be moved to Sunday.

In the next chapter, Paul goes to Iconium where the same pattern persists.  He goes into the synagogue and preaches on the Sabbath.  There is no reason to think anything different has occurred. 

And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. – Acts 14:1

There is nothing in these portions of Acts that even remotely suggest that Paul held meetings on Sundays or directed new believers to come to a Sunday service.  Everything is Sabbath focused.  This is important considering these verses are indicating that both Jews and Greeks believed.  Some may argue that Sunday worship would have been a stumbling block for a newly converted Jew.  However, this would not be the case for a newly converted Gentile. 

In chapter 15, there was false teaching being spread among the new churches stating that one needs to be circumcised before one can be saved.  Paul and Barnabas disputed this teaching and were sent to Jerusalem to validate their position with the apostles.  After Peter confirmed in verse 9 that salvation had always been by faith alone, confirming that circumcision was never required for salvation, James provides a limited list of Torah commands that new Gentile converts should initially focus on:

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. – Acts 15:20

Many Christians stop at verse 20 and fail to read the second half of James’ proclamation in the following verse that explains how Gentiles will learn the additional things they should know and follow from Scripture.

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. – Acts 15:21

Stop and think about the significance of this statement for a new Gentile believer. The expectation was that Gentile believers would learn the truths of the Torah by attending services each Sabbath day. This speaks of not only the relevancy of the importance of the Torah in a new believer’s life, but also of the day God wanted them to fellowship with other believers. There is nothing about assembling together on Sundays, but rather on the Sabbath.

In Chapter 16, Paul had traveled to Philippi where he again met with individuals on the Sabbath.

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. – Acts 16:13

There is no mention of gathering together on Sundays or instruction to do so.  Over and over Paul went to the Synagogues and gathered with individuals on the Sabbath.  The pattern for what Paul did each Sabbath is based on what was read in chapter 13 (see above). 

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures – Acts 17:1-2

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

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.  When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;  But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. – Acts 18:19-21

From Acts 13 it is clear that Paul and those with him were worshiping God among those that were assembled in the synagogue on the Sabbath.  If Paul was just trying to “win souls for Christ” where the lost were gathered, then the question needs to be asked why he was there participating in the services.  The answer is that assembling with the saints on the Sabbath was his pattern and custom, just like it was for our Messiah.

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

The command for Sabbath worship was never changed.  The pattern for Sabbath worship continued after the death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah.  Sabbath meetings and gatherings are what one would expect to see without a clear command to change such a practice.