“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of Elohim; for anyone who enters Elohim’s rest also rests from their works, just as Elohim did from his.” – Hebrews 4:9-10
1) Adam and Eve, and Elohim were present for the very first 7th Day Sabbath.
Genesis 1:26 – 2:3
26 And Elohim said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So Elohim created man in his own image, in the image of Elohim created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29 And Elohim said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31 And Elohim saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the 7th day Elohim ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And Elohim blessed the 7th day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which Elohim created and made.
2) Abraham kept the 7th Day Sabbath 430 years before the Israelites received the 10 Commandments at Mt. Sinai.
Genesis 26
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my COMMANDMENTS, my statutes, and my laws.
Genesis 12
40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was 430 years.
41 And it came to pass at the end of the 430 years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt.
3) Both the Israelites and Gentiles received the 10 Commandments which includes the 4th Commandment to REMEMBER the 7th Day Sabbath at Mt. Sinai. To remember something implies that it was forgotten. Therefore, the Israelites were already keeping it just like their father Abraham, but had forgotten it due to their sojourn in Egypt. Elohim also teaches that His laws are for both the native Israelites and the the Strangers or Gentiles dwelling with Israel.
Exodus 12
37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38 And a MIXED MULTITUDE went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Exodus 20
8 REMEMBER the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the 7th day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy STRANGER (GENTILE) that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the 7th day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
4) Philo Judaeus, also called Philo of Alexandria, lived from approximately 15 BC to 50 AD. He came from a very prominent family; his historical writings are considered extremely valuable. He reports to us that the whole world observed the 7th day Sabbath, not just the Jews.
“But after the whole world had been completed according to the perfect nature of the number six, the Father hallowed the day following, the seventh, praising it and calling it holy. For that day is the festival, not of one city or one country, but of all the earth; a day which alone it is right to call the day of festival for all people and the birth-day of the world” (On the Creation of the World, 30).
“…with our laws which Moses has given to us; for they lead after them and influence all nations, barbarians, and Greeks, the inhabitants of continents and islands, the eastern nations and the western, Europe and Asia; in short, the whole habitable world from one extremity to the other. For what man is there who does not honour that sacred seventh day, granting in consequence a relief and relaxation from labour, for himself and for all those who are near to him, and that not to free men only, but also to slaves, and even to beasts of burden; for the holiday extends even to every description of animal, and to every beast whatever which performs service to man, like slaves obeying their natural master, and it affects even every species of plant and tree…but everything is at liberty and in safety on that day, and enjoys as it were, perfect freedom, no one ever touching them, in obedience to a universal proclamation” (On the Life of Moses, 2.4).
5) Josephus was a first-century Jewish writer who lived from about 37-100 AD. He came from a priestly family and was an aristocrat. He recorded many events in Jewish history and especially events contemporary to his time.
“We have already demonstrated that our laws have been such as have always inspired admiration and imitation into all other men; nay, the earliest Grecian philosophers, though in appearance they observe the laws of their own countries, yet did they, in their actions and their philosophic doctrines, follow our legislator, and instructed men to live sparingly, and to have friendly communications one with another. Nay farther, the multitude of mankind itself have had a great inclination of 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, and by which our fasts, and lighting up lamps, and many of our prohibitions as to our food, are not observed” (Flavius Josephus, Against Appion 2.40)
Both Jewish writers state that most or all the Gentiles were influenced by the seventh-day Sabbath. These are bold claims! Because these men were both Jewish, one could argue that their statements contain a degree of bias. One of the ways we will cross reference the validity of their comments is to compare them to Christian writings on similar subjects in the very next century.
6) The first statement we will review was made by Theophilius of Antioch. He was the Christian Bishop of Antioch 169-180 AD; he was the sixth Bishop of the city since the time of the Apostles.
“‘And on the sixth day God finished His works which He made, and rested on the seventh day from all His works which He made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because in it He rested from all His works which God began to create.’…Moreover, [they spoke] concerning the seventh day, which all men acknowledge; but the most know not that what among the Hebrews is called the “Sabbath,” is translated into Greek the “Seventh” (ebdomas), a name which is adopted by every nation, although they know not the reason of the appellation” (To Autolycus, 2.11-12).
7) Our second quote comes from Clement of Alexandria, who lived approximately 150-215 AD.
“But the seventh day is recognised as sacred, not by the Hebrews only, but also by the Greeks; according to which the whole world of all animals and plants revolve…” (Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, 5.14).
These two Christian authors express similar sentiments to our Jewish sources, though writing about 100 or more years afterwards. This indicates that the Gentile attitude towards the Sabbath continued beyond the first century.
Next, we will review some Roman/Greek authors from this era of time who referenced the Sabbath in some way. None of them were Jewish or Christian. This will allow us to test the claims made by Philo, Josephus, Theophilus, and Clement we reviewed earlier.
These quotes will give us important clues to ascertain the widespread knowledge of the Sabbath in the early Roman Empire. Most of these writers composed their works in Latin, though some used koine Greek. The quotes we will use span from the first century BC through the mid-second century AD. This allows us to look at the time leading up to, during, and just after the first century.
8) Meleager of Gadara (1st cent. BC)
“If your lover is some Sabbath-keeper (Sabbatikos), no great wonder! Love burns hot even on cold Sabbaths (Sabbasi)” (Anthologia Graeca, 5.160).
9) Horace (65-8 BC)
“‘Surely you said there was something you wanted to tell me in private.’ ‘I mind it well, but I’ll tell you at a better time. To-day is the thirtieth Sabbath (tricesima sabbata). Would you affront the circumcised Jews?’ ‘I have no scruples,’ say I. ‘But I have. I’m somewhat weaker brother, one of the many*. You will pardon me; I’ll talk another day’” (Satires, 1.9.67-73).
*Horace discussed “…one of the many” who did not want to attend to certain matters on Sabbath. The Latin reads: “unus multorum” meaning one of many or one of a multitude.
10) Ovid (43 BC-17 AD)
“…on the day, too, when the festival recurs, observed each seventh day by the Syrian of Palestine, a day not suited for the transaction of business” (The Art of Love, Book 1, part 11).
11) Seneca (4 BC to 65 AD)
Seneca was an orator and tutor of Emperor Nero. Seneca mocked the lighting of Sabbath lamps. He says it should be banned because the gods do not need light. “Precepts are commonly given as to how the gods should be worshipped. But let us forbid lamps to be lighted on the Sabbath (sabbatis), since the gods do not need light, neither do men take pleasure in soot…” (Epistle 95.47).
12) Petronius (27-66 AD)
Petronius was a consul of Rome and friend of Nero. “The Jew may worship his pig-god and clamour in the ears of high heaven, but unless he also cuts back his foreskin with the knife, he shall go forth from the holycity cast forth from the people, and transgress the Sabbath (sabbata) by breaking the law of fasting…” (Poem, section 24).
13) Juvenal (d. 140 AD)
“Some chance to have a father who fears the Sabbaths (sabbata), They adore nothing besides the clouds, and the Deity of heaven: Nor do they think swine’s flesh to be different from human From which the father abstain’d; and soon they lay aside their foreskins: But used to despise the Roman laws, They learn, and keep, and fear the Jewish law, Whatsoever Moses hath delivered in the secret volume: Not to shew the ways, unless to one observing the same rites, To lead the circumcised only to a sought-for fountain But the father is in fault, to whom every seventh day was Idle, and he did not meddle with any part of life” (Satires, 14:96-106).
14) “The grammarian Diogenes, who used to lecture every Sabbath (sabbatis) at Rhodes, would not admit Tiberius when he came to hear him on a different day, but sent a message by a common slave of his, putting him off to the seventh day (septimum diem)” (Life of Tiberius, 32.2).
15) Vettius Valens (150-170 AD)
Vettius was an astrologer. He wrote a book called Anthology. Book 1, Section 10, title reads: “Concerning the seven-zones and the Sabbath day (sabbatiches hameras). Opening line: “Concerning the week and the sabbath day (sabbatiches hameras). He then lists the days of the week in the following order: Helios (Sun-day); Selene (Monday); Aries (Tuesday); Hermes (Wednesday); Zeus (Thursday); Aphrodite (Friday); Kronos (Saturday).
16) The seventh day of the week continues to be called
“Sabbath” or “day of rest” in over a hundred languages.
INTRODUCTION—This is incredible information! This Chart of the Week is over a hundred years old. It was prepared by Dr. William Meade Jones, a research expert in London, England. Well over a hundred languages prove that the week, everywhere, has seven days;—and that, in most languages, the native word for the seventh day is “Sabbath” (which means “rest” or “rest day”) or “rest day.”
Jones, a well-known British researcher, decided that since Scripture clearly shows that the Bible Sabbath was first given to mankind at the end of Creation Week, then two important facts would have had to be known throughout the ancient world: First, a fixing of the seven-day weekly cycle on a worldwide basis and, second, an ancient worldwide knowledge of the seventh-day Sabbath.
Jones was convinced of this for four reasons:
1 – Adam and Noah were both earnest worshipers of God and would therefore have been faithful Sabbath keepers.
2 – They would have taught their descendants about the Bible Sabbath; these descendants would then be aware of its original sacredness.
3 – The truth that God is to be worshiped on the seventh day of each seven-day week—would require a seven-day weekly cycle everywhere. If the first generations kept the weekly Sabbath given at Creation, then their descendants would continue to keep a seven-day week, even though they might later have turned to idols and left the worship of the true God.
4 – Therefore, as the descendants of Adam and Noah spread out all over the world, they would have carried with them these two important facts: (1) Each week has seven days, and (2) the seventh day of the week is the holy Sabbath given by God to mankind.
Jones reasoned that, even though many of Adam and Noah’s descendants would become scoffers, all of them would still carry with them the twin truths of the seven-day Creation Week and the seventh-day Sabbath rest. So all the world would have a seven-day week;—and, embedded in most of those languages, the seventh day would generally be called the “rest day” (“Sabbath”).
William Meade Jones was certain that, because Genesis 1 and 2 were really true, and God really created the world in six days and then rested on the seventh day,—that a majority of the languages of the world would prove the fact!
This, in turn, would be a powerful proof—not only that the seventh day (and not the first) was the true Sabbath given by God to mankind,—but also a dramatic proof that Genesis 1 and 2 are genuine, and that God is our Creator!
William Meade Jones’ Chart of the Week is stunning proof that the book of Genesis is really true! This amazing chart is filled with corroborating evidence.
1 – In all languages the seven-day weekly cycle is maintained; that is, no language group anywhere has a week with more or less days than seven.
2 – In spite of the fact that 6,000 years has elapsed since Creation Week when our world was created (Genesis 1-2), and regardless of many language adaptations down through the centuries, the seventh day of the week continues to be called “Sabbath” or “day of rest” in over a hundred languages.
Here is a list of languages in which the vast majority indicate a seven day weekly cycle and the seventh day means Sabbath or Rest.
Shemitic—
Hebrew Bible Yom Hash Shabbath or Day of the Sabbath
Hebrew (ancient and modern) Shabbath or Sabbath
Targum of Onkelos (Hebrew literature) Yom Shviaa or Day Seventh AND Sabbath or Sabbath
Kurdistan Jews (Targum dialect) Yoymet Shabbat Kodesh or Holy Sabbath Day
Ancient Syriac Shabbatho or Sabbath
Chaldee Syriac (Kurdistan; Urumia, Persia) Shapta or Sabbath
Samaritan (Nablas, Palestine) (use old Hebrew letters) Yoma Hasheviah or Day the Seventh AND Shabbath or Sabbath
Babylonian (Euphrates and Tigris Valleys, Mesopotamia) Sabatu or Sabbath
Assyrian (Euphrates & Tigris Valleys, Mesopotamia) Sabatu or Sabbath
Arabic (very old names) Shiyar or Chief or Rejoicing Day
Arabic (ancient and modern; W. Asia, E, W & N Africa) Assabt or The Sabbath
Maltese (Malta) Issibt or Sabbath
Tigre (Abyssinia) Sanbat or Sabbath
Amharic (Abyssinia) Sanbat or Sabbath
Falasha (Jews of Abyssinia) Yini Sanbat or The Sabbath
Hamitic—
Coptic (Egypt; a dead language for 300 years) Pi Sabbaton or The Sabbath
Orma or Galla (south of Abyssinia) Zambada or Sabbath
Tamashek or Towarek (ancient Libyan or Numidian) Ahal Essabt or The Sabbath Day
Kabyle or Berber (Ancient Numidian; N Africa) Ghas or Sabbath Day
Hausa (Central Africa) Aseebatu or The Sabbath
Japhetic—
Sanscrit (India) Shanivar or Saturn-day
Hindi (India) Shumiwar or Saturn-day
Pali (India) Sanivaro or Saturn-day
Urdu or Hindustani (Islamic and Hindu, India) Shamba or Sabbath; And Sanichar or Saturn
Pashto or Afghan (Afghanistan) Khali or Unemployed day; And Shamba or Holiday, Sabbath
Pahlavi or Pahlavi-Pazand (Ancient Persian) Kevan or Saturn; And Shambid or Fragrance – The pleasantest day of the week; And Dies Sabbati or Sabbath
Persian (Persia; Modern Iran) Shambih or Holiday, Sabbath
Armenian (Armenia) Shapat or Sabbath
Kurdish (Kurdistan) Shamba or Sabbath
Brahuiky (Beluchistan) Awalihafta or First or Chief of the Seven; And Shambe or Sabbath
Tartaric—
Mongolian (Sharra-Mongolian; Eastern Mongolia) Sanitear and Bemba or The Son of the Sun, Saturn
Kalmuk (Western Mongolia) Bembe Graku or Saturn Planet
Turkish (Osmanlian; Turkey) Yomessabt or Day the Sabbath
Lazen (Pashelik of Trebisond) Ssabatun or Sabbath
Monosyllabic—
Chinese (Roman Catholic; earlier) Chanlitsi or Worship-day Seven
Mohammadan Chinese Saibitai or Sabbath
Annamite (Annam) Ngaythubay or Day in order Seven
Ancient Peguan (Pegu-Burma) T’pauh or (Day) Seven
Khassi (Cossyah Hills, East of Bengal) Ka sngi sait-jain or A day to wash clothes; Purification-day
Tibetan (Tibet) Za-pen pa or (Planet Seven)
Boutan (Little Tibet) Pen-pa or Eye of God=Saturn; AND Odsardunpa or Seventh Brilliant Star
Georgian (Caucasus) Shabati or Sabbath
Suanian (Caucasus)Ingouish (Caucasus) Sammtyn or Sabbath
Aware or Avar (Daghistan; Cis-Caucasus) Samat qo or Sabbath Day
Polynesian—
Malayan (Sumatra) hari Sabtu or Day Sabbath
Javanese (Java) Saptoe (saptu) or Sabbath
Sunda (West Java) Saptu or Sabbath
Dayak (Borneo) Sabtu or Sabbath
Makssar (Southern Celebes and Salayer Islands) Sattu or Sabbath
Bugis (Celebes) Sattu or Sabbath
Malagassay (Madagascar) Alsabotsy or The Sabbath
Nuforian (NW New Guinea) Ras Fiek or Day Seven
African—
Swahili (East Africa) Assabu or The Sabbath
Congo (West Africa) Satade or Saturday; AND Kiaosabulu or Sabbado: Sabbath
Isolated Languages—
Wolof (Sengambia, W Africa) Alere-asser or Last Day – Sabbath
Fulah (W Africa) Essibt or The Sabbath
Mandingo (South of Senegal, W Africa) Sibiti or Sabbath
Teda (Central Africa) Essebdu or The Sabbath
Bornu or Kanuri (Central Africa) Sibda or Sabbath
Fulfulde (Central Africa) Assebdu or Sabbath
Sonyal (Central Africa) Assebdu or Sabbath
Logone (Central Africa) Se-sibde or Sabbath
Wandals (Central Africa) Sidba or Sabbath
Bagrimma (Central Africa) Sibbedi or Sabbath
Maba (Central Africa) Sab. or Sabbath
Miscellaneous—
Norman French (10th and 11th centuries) Seabedi, Samaday, Semadi or Sabbath Day
Ancient French (12 and 13th centuries) Samedi or Sabbath Day
D’oc. France (ancient and modern) Dissata, Dissate or Day Sabbath
Ecclesiastical Roman Sabatum
Parliamentary (British) Dies Sabbati
Basque (Spain and France) Larumbat or One Quarter (moon)
Finnish (Finland) Lauvantai or Corruptions of Icelandic Laugardagur
Estonian (Estonia) Lau-paaw or Bathday
Livonian (Baltic Russia) Puol-paava or Half Day
Lap (Laplanders, Norway) Lavardak or Corruption of Ice. Lang.
Morduin (Russia) Subbota, Suota or Sabbath
Tsheremissian (Russia) Kuks-keca or Dry-day (day without work)
Permian (Russia) Subota or Sabbath
Votiak (Russia)
Hungarian (Hungary) Szombat or Sabbath
Ostiac (Russia) Chotmetchatl or Sixth-day; AND Juolynchatl or Hinder end-day
Greek (Greece) (Sabbath)
Modern Greek (Greece) (Sabbath)
Latin (Italy) Sabbatum or Sabbath; AND Dies Saturni or Day of Saturn
Italian (Italy) Sabato or Sabbath
Spanish (Spain) Sabado or Sabbath
Portuguese (Portugal) Sabado or Sabbath
French (France) Samedi or Sabbath-day
Roman (Spain, Catalonia) Dissapte or Day-Sabbath
Wallachian (Romania or Wallachia) Sambata or Sabbath
Old High German (South Germany) Sambaztag or Sabbath’s day
High German (Germany) Samstag or Sabbath’s day
Icelandic (Iceland) Laugardagur or (of bath-day)
Swedish (Sweden) Lordag or Corruption of Icelandic Laugardagur
Danish (Denmark) Laverdag or Corruption of Icelandic Laugardagur
Old Slave (Bulgaria) Subbota or Sabbath
Russian (Russia) Subbota or Sabbath
Illyrian (Dalmatia, Serbia) Subota or Sabbath
New Slovenian (Illyrie in Austria) Sobota or Sabbath
Bulgarian (Bulgaria) Subbota or Sabbath
Polish (Poland) Sobota or Sabbath
Bohemian (Bohemia) Sobota or Sabbath
Lusatian (Saxony) Sobota or Sabbath
Polabic (borders of the Elbe) Subuta or Sabbath
Lithuanian (Lithuania) fubata or Sabbath
Prussian (Prussia; Germany) Sabatico or Sabbath
English Bible (England) The Seventh Day, The Sabbath
17) Yeshua, the Apostles, and the other disciples kept the 7th day sabbath, including Gentiles.
Matthew 12
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
Mark 1
21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
Mark 3
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
Mark 6
2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
Luke 4
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16 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.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of Yahweh.
Luke 4
31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
Luke 6
5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
Luke 13
10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
Luke 23
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Acts 13
13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
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.
15 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.
16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience……………………….
……………………….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.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Acts 15
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Acts 17
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, AS HIS MANNER WAS, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Acts 18
1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue EVERY SABBATH, and persuaded the Jews and the GREEKS.
Hebrews 4:9-10
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of Elohim; for anyone who enters Elohim’s rest also rests from their works, just as Elohim did from his.” – Hebrews 4:9-10
18) Yeshua taught that if one wants to have Eternal Life, then you must keep the Commandments. The 4th Commandment is the 7th Day Sabbath.
Matthew 19
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
19) True believers will be keeping the Sabbath all the way until the Great Tribulation.
Matthew 24
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
THE FOLLOWING ARE CHRISTIAN REFERENCES ON THE HISTORY OF THE SABBATH FROM THE 1ST CENTURY THROUGH THE 20TH CENTURY
20) “It is certain that the ancient Sabbath did remain and was observed (together with the celebration of the Lord’s day) by the Christians of the East Church, above three hundred years after our Saviour’s death.” – A Learned Treatise of the Sabbath, p. 77
21) “The primitive Christians had a great veneration for the Sabbath, and spent the day in devotion and sermons. And it is not to be doubted but they derived this practice from the Apostles themselves, as appears by several scriptures to the purpose.” “Dialogues on the Lord’s Day,” p. 189. London: 1701, By Dr. T.H. Morer (A Church of England divine).
22) “…The Sabbath was a strong tie which united them with the life of the whole people, and in keeping the Sabbath holy they followed not only the example but also the command of Jesus.” “Geschichte des Sonntags,” pp.13, 14
23) “The primitive Christians did keep the Sabbath of the Jews;…therefore the Christians, for a long time together, did keep their conventions upon the Sabbath, in which some portions of the law were read: and this continued till the time of the Laodicean council.” “The Whole Works” of Jeremy Taylor, Vol. IX,p. 416 (R. Heber’s Edition, Vol XII, p. 416).
24) “It is certain that the ancient Sabbath did remain and was observed (together with the celebration of the Lord’s day) by the Christians of the East Church, above three hundred years after our Saviour’s death.” “A Learned Treatise of the Sabbath,” p. 77
25) “The Gentile Christians observed also the Sabbath,” Gieseler’s “Church History,” Vol.1, ch. 2, par. 30, 93.
26) “From the apostles’ time until the council of Laodicea, which was about the year 364, the holy observance of the Jews’ Sabbath continued, as may be proved out of many authors: yea, notwithstanding the decree of the council against it.” “Sunday a Sabbath.” John Ley, p.163. London: 1640.
27) “The seventh-day Sabbath was…solemnised by Christ, the Apostles, and primitive Christians, till the Laodicean Council did in manner quite abolish the observations of it.” —Dissertation on the Lord’s Day, pp. 33, 34
28) Egypt (Oxyrhynchus Papyrus) (200-250 A.D.)”Except ye make the sabbath a real sabbath (sabbatize the Sabbath,” Greek), ye shall not see the Father.” “The oxyrhynchus Papyri,” pt,1, p.3, Logion 2, verso 4-11 (London Offices of the Egypt Exploration Fund, 1898).
29) “Thou shalt observe the Sabbath, on account of Him who ceased from His work of creation, but ceased not from His work of providence: it is a rest for meditation of the law, not for idleness of the hands.” “The Anti-Nicene Fathers,” Vol 7,p. 413. From “Constitutions of the Holy Apostles,” a document of the 3rd and 4th Centuries.
30) Africa (Alexandria) Origen “After the festival of the unceasing sacrifice (the crucifixion) is put the second festival of the Sabbath, and it is fitting for whoever is righteous among the saints to keep also the festival of the Sabbath. There remaineth therefore a sabbatismus, that is, a keeping of the Sabbath, to the people of God (Hebrews 4:9).” “Homily on Numbers 23,” par.4, in Migne, “Patrologia Graeca,” Vol. 12,cols. 749, 750.
31) Palestine to India (Church of the East) As early as A.D. 225 there existed large bishoprics or conferences of the Church of the East (Sabbath-keeping) stretching from Palestine to India. Mingana, “Early Spread of Christianity.” Vol.10, p. 460.
32) India (Buddhist Controversy, 220 A.D.) The Kushan Dynasty of North India called a famous council of Buddhist priests at Vaisalia to bring uniformity among the Buddhist monks on the observance of their weekly Sabbath. Some had been so impressed by the writings of the Old Testament that they had begun to keep holy the Sabbath. Lloyd, “The Creed of Half Japan,” p. 23.
33) “Ambrose, the celebrated bishop of Milan, said that when he was in Milan he observed Saturday, but when in Rome observed Sunday. This gave rise to the proverb, ‘When you are in Rome, do as Rome does.'” Heylyn, “The History of the Sabbath” (1612)
34) “It was the practice generally of the Easterne Churches; and some churches of the west…For in the Church of Millaine (Milan);…it seems the Saturday was held in a farre esteeme… Not that the Easterne Churches, or any of the rest which observed that day, were inclined to Iudaisme (Judaism); but that they came together on the Sabbath day, to worship Iesus (Jesus) Christ the Lord of the Sabbath.” “History of the Sabbath” (original spelling retained), Part 2, par. 5, pp.73, 74. London: 1636. Dr. Heylyn.
35) “The ancient Christians were very careful in the observance of Saturday, or the seventh day…It is plain that all the Oriental churches, and the greatest part of the world, observed the Sabbath as a festival…Athanasius likewise tells us that they held religious assembles on the Sabbath, not because they were infected with Judaism, but to worship Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, Epiphanius says the same.” “Antiquities of the Christian Church,” Vol.II Book XX, chap. 3, sec.1, 66. 1137,1138.
36) Abyssinia – Remnants of Philip’s Evangelism “In the last half of that century St. Ambrose of Milan stated officially that the Abyssinian bishop, Museus, had ‘traveled almost everywhere in the country of the Seres’ (China). For more than seventeen centuries the Abyssinian Church continued to sanctify Saturday as the holy day of the fourth commandment.” Ambrose, DeMoribus, Brachmanorium Opera Ominia, 1132, found in Migne, Patrologia Latima, Vol.17, pp.1131,1132.
37) “Mingana proves that in 370 A.D. Abyssinian Christianity (a Sabbath keeping church) was so popular that its famous director, Musacus, travelled extensively in the East promoting the church in Arabia, Persia, India and China.” “Truth Triumphant,”p.308 (Footnote 27).
38) Spain – Council Elvira (A.D.305) Canon 26 of the Council of Elvira reveals that the Church of Spainat that time kept Saturday, the seventh day. “As to fasting every Sabbath: Resolved, that the error be corrected of fasting every Sabbath.” This resolution of the council is in direct opposition to the policy the church at Rome had inaugurated, that of commanding Sabbath as a fast day in order to humiliate it and make it repugnant to the people.
39) Spain – It is a point of further interest to note that in north-eastern Spainnear the city of Barcelona is a city called Sabadell, in a district originaly inhabited. By a people called both “Valldenses” and Sabbatati.”
40) Persia-A.D. 335-375 (40 Years Persecution Under Shapur II) The popular complaint against the Christians-“They despise our sungod, they have divine services on Saturday, they desecrate the sacred the earth by burying their dead in it.”
41) Persia-A.D. 335-375 “They despise our sun-god. Did not Zorcaster, the sainted founder of our divine beliefs, institute Sunday one thousand years ago in honour of the sun and supplant the Sabbath of the Old Testament. Yet these Christians have divine services on Saturday.” O’Leary, “The Syriac Church and Fathers,” pp.83, 84.
42) Council Laodicea – A.D.365 “Canon 16-On Saturday the Gospels and other portions of the Scripture shall be read aloud.” “Canon 29-Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday, but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day they shall especially honor, and as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day.” Hefele’s “Councils,” Vol. 2, b. 6.
43) “The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath, as well as on the first day of the week, which custom is never observed at Rome or at Alexandria.” —Socrates, “Ecclesiastical History,” Book 7, chap.19.
44) “For although almost all churches throughout The World celebrated the sacred mysteries (the Lord’s Supper) on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Allexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, refuse to do this.” The footnote which accompanies the foregoing quotation explains the use of the word “Sabbath.” It says: “That is, upon the Saturday. It should be observed, that Sunday is never called “the Sabbath’ by the ancient Fathers and historians.” Socrates, “Ecclestical History,” Book 5, chap. 22, p. 289.
45) “The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath, as well as on the first day of the week, which custom is never observed at Rome or at Alexandria.” Sozomen, “Ecclesiastical History,” Book 7, chap. 19.
46) Augustine, Bishop Of Hippo (North Africa) Augustine shows here that the Sabbath was observed in his day “in the greater part of the Christian world,” and his testimony in this respect is all the more valuable because he himself was an earnest and consistent Sunday-keeper. See “Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers,” 1st Series, Vol.1, pp. 353, 354.
47) Pope Sylvester (314-335) was the first to order the churches to fast on Saturday, and Pope Innocent (402-417) made it a binding law in the churches that obeyed him, (In order to bring the Sabbath into disfavour.) “Innocentius did ordain the Saturday or Sabbath to be always fasted.” Dr. Peter Heylyn, “History of the Sabbath, Part 2, p. 44.
48) Down even to the fifth century the observance of the Jewish Sabbath was continued in the Christian church. “Ancient Christianity Exemplified,” Lyman Coleman, ch. 26, sec. 2, p. 527
49) In Jerome’s day (420 A.D.) the devoutest Christians did ordinary work on Sunday. “Treatise of the Sabbath Day,” by Dr. White, Lord Bishop of Ely, p. 219.
50) France- “Wherefore, except Vespers and Nocturns, there are no public services among them in the day except on Saturday (Sabbath) and Sunday.” John Cassian, A French monk, “Institutes,” Book 3, ch. 2.
51) Spain (400 A.D.) “Ambrose sanctified the seventh day as the Sabbath (as he himself says). Ambrose had great influence in Spain, which was also observing the Saturday Sabbath.” Truth Triumphant, p. 68.
52) Sidonius (Speaking Of King Theodoric Of The Goths, A.D. 454-526) – “It is a fact that it was formerly the custom in the East to keep the Sabbath in the same manner as the Lord’s day and to hold sacred assemblies: while on the other hand, the people of the West, contending for the Lord’s day have neglected the celebration of the Sabbath.” “Apollinaries Sidonli Epistolae,” lib.1, 2; Migne, 57.
53) “There are several cities and villages in Egypt where, contrary to the usage established elsewhere, the people meet together on Sabbath evenings, and, although they have dined previously, partake of the mysteries.” Sozomen. “Ecclesiastical History” Book 7, ch. 19
54) Scottish Church “In this latter instance they seemed to have followed a custom of which we find traces in the early monastic church of Ireland by which they held Saturday to be the Sabbath on which they rested from all their labours.” W.T. Skene, “Adamnan Llife of St. Columbs” 1874, p.96.
TO BE CONTINUED…