The First Day of the Week.
By John Nevins Andrews
WAS THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK GRADUALLY SANCTIFIED BY THE APOSTLES AFTER THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST?
[From Les Signes des Temps.] The first day was not sanctified on the day of Pentecost. We have learned two important facts concerning the sanctification of the first day of the week: 1. That it was not sanctified by any divine decree at the resurrection of Christ, as the seventh day was sanctified at the close of the creation. 2. That it was not gradually sanctified by the acts of Christ during the forty days before his ascension. Now we are to study the book of Acts to learn whether the apostles sanctified the day, either by some one united act of authority, or by a series of acts, no one of which accomplished the work, but all of which gradually tended to that result.247 Ten days after the ascension of Christ, occurred the day of Pentecost. On that day, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples. Acts 2:1-12. Though the day of Pentecost can come but once in a year, it must come on some day of the week whenever it comes. The day of the week on which the Pentecost first occurred, after the ascension of Christ, is in dispute; but we will concede to the advocates of the sacredness of the first day of the week, that it occurred on that day. But those who believe in the sacredness of the first day of the week, assign the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, as one of the principal evidences that the first day of the week has been sanctified, in the place of the day ordained in the fourth commandment. But we ought to have something besides conjecture, before venturing to change the commandment of God. There were three Jewish feasts in each year. Ex. 23:14-16. The first was the feast of the passover, and of the offering of the first-fruits of the barley harvest. Lev. 23:5-14. This feast typified the death of Christ, our passover, and his resurrection, as the first-fruits of them that slept. 1 Cor. 5:7, 8; 15:23. So Christ died and arose again on the anniversary of that feast. John 18:28; 19:14. The second feast was the feast of the first-fruits of wheat harvest, fifty days after that of the feast of barley harvest. This feast typified the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and so when the time came for that event, it occurred on the day of Pentecost, or fiftieth day. Lev. 23:15-21; Acts 2:1. The third feast was the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year, when all the harvest had been gathered into the garner. Lev. 23:29-43. This will be fulfilled in the kingdom of God, after all the saints have been gathered to the new Jerusalem. Rev. 7:9-17. If the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, not because it was the day of Pentecost, but because it was the first day of the week, would not the Spirit of inspiration have called the day the first day of the week, or the day of the resurrection of Christ, instead of calling it by the name of a Jewish feast, which comes only once in a year? The sacred writer thought it important to say that this event occurred on the anniversary of the second Jewish feast, but he treated the particular day of the week as of so little importance as not to merit mention by him. But it is possible for us to ascertain the exact truth with respect to the question whether the first day of the week was sanctified by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. What the apostles said to the multitude will decide the question. If the day was sanctified that morning, then the apostles must inform the people at once, so that they should not ignorantly profane it. Moreover, they had an excellent opportunity in which to do it, for the attention of the multitude was arrested by the fact that the apostles spoke many languages, and they inquired what this meant. Peter told them that this was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but he said nothing by way of indicating that this event had sanctified the day on which it took place. Acts 2:14-21. He also told them that God had raised from the dead Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had crucified, but he said not one word concerning the sacredness of the day on which he arose. Verses 22-36. But this is not all. When Peter had finished his sermon, the people were pricked in their hearts, and demanded, "What shall we do?" Verse 37. The apostles must answer this important question. If a new duty had been created that morning, by the sanctification of the first day of the week in the place of the seventh, the apostles must instruct the people concerning this duty, or bear upon their own souls the responsibility of leaving them to transgress. But they said not one word about celebrating the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection of Christ. On the contrary, they simply said: "Repent and be baptized." Verses 38-41. We shall show here-after that baptism is the true memorial of the resurrection of Christ. Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12. It may be said that the apostles on the day of Pentecost said nothing concerning the commandments of God. But there was no need that they should speak of the commandments unless they had been abolished or changed, for their authority was recognized by all. But if a new duty had been created, and one that completely changed the fourth commandment, it was necessary that that fact should then and there be announced to the multitude. But the apostles said not one word of this, though they had the best opportunity possible, and though the people must have this instruction to save them from transgressing, if the sanctification of the first day of the week took place that morning. We are, therefore, certain that the day of Pentecost did not witness the sanctification of the first day of the week, or the change of the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first. The first day was not sanctified in the third chapter of Acts.
The second chapter of Acts contains decisive evidence that the first day of the week had not been sanctified when the day of Pentecost closed. Now we come to the third chapter. Here we learn that not long after the day of Pentecost, Peter and John wrought a notable miracle at the temple, in healing a lame man from his birth. Verses 1-11. Then, as all the people were attentive to hear, Peter preached to them concerning the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the ascension, of Christ. Verses 12-26. The discourse of Peter did, therefore, call attention to three of the four most memorable days in the history of Christ: the day of his crucifixion, the day of his resurrection, and that of his ascension, though making no distinct reference to the day of his birth. If any one of them ought to be celebrated, he had now a good opportunity to say so. The apostles had had time to consider whether they should sanctify a new day. The merit of each day could be thus compared by them. The day of his crucifixion, when Christ died for sinners, claimed pre-eminent distinction as the day in which infinite love and inflexible justice, were more strikingly manifested than on any other day in the history of our race; the day of his resurrection witnessed his triumph over death; the day of his ascension witnessed his triumphal entrance into the new Jerusalem, as described in Ps. 24:7-10, and saw him take his place upon the throne of his Father, as predicted in Ps. 110:1-4. It was for Peter to say whether the people should observe all these memorable days, or, if not all of them, then which one. It was also for him to say whether the celebration should be weekly or annual. Now what did he say on these points? Nothing! Why did he remain silent? If any one of these days ought to be observed, the time had come when the fact should be made known. The people were profaning the day because of ignorance. Why did Peter suffer this profanation to continue without offering one word of warning or instruction? There can be but one answer: The day sanctified in the beginning, in honor of the Creator, when God created all things by Jesus Christ, had not been superseded by the sanctification of a new day, nor did the apostles think it best to commence to sanctify another day on this occasion. The first day was not sanctified in the fourth chapter of Acts.
Now we come to chapter four. Here we learn that 5,000 persons were converted by the sermon which we have just examined in chapter three, which is a greater number than was converted on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:41; 4:4. The apostles were brought before the Sanhedrim, and Peter again speaks concerning the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ. Acts 4:8-12. In this address, Peter quoted Ps. 118:22, which speaks of the stone rejected by the builders, which God had made the head of the corner. He said that this stone is Christ. The Psalmist adds in verse 24: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." This is the day which Abraham saw and rejoiced concerning it, namely, the day of the gospel in which the Christian is to rejoice always. John 8:56; 1 Thess. 5:16; 2 Cor. 6:10; Phil. 4:4. Some persons assert that Christ was made the head of the corner when he was raised from the dead, and that this act sanctified the day of his resurrection as the one in which Christians should rejoice; but the Bible does not say that he became head of the corner on the day of his resurrection. On the contrary, it appears that this did not take place till he ascended, and became head over all things to the church. Eph. 1:20-22. Nor does the Bible anywhere assert that the first day of the week has been sanctified as a day in which to rejoice, for it commands us to rejoice always. But the address of Peter will leave us no ground for doubt on these points. He is called, in the providence of God, to speak of the resurrection of Christ, and also to speak concerning the fulfillment. Cf. Ps. 118:22. If this Psalm predicts the sanctification of the first day of the week, in honor of the resurrection of Christ, Peter cannot avoid declaring the fact, unless he is willing to leave the people in ignorance of their duty. What, then, does he say of the sanctification of the first day of the week? Not one word! If the day was already sanctified, he must speak of the fact, to save the day from profanation. Or, if the apostles were about to sanctify the day, that fact ought to be announced, and the circumstances under which he spake demanded that he should speak plainly on the point. But he said not one word concerning it, which proves that he had no idea that the first day of the week was a sacred day. After the apostles left the Sanhedrim, it is said, in verse 33, that with great power they gave witness to the resurrection of Christ, but they said nothing concerning the celebration of the first day in honor of that event. We are, therefore, certain that as late as the close of the fourth chapter of Acts, no such duty existed. The first day was not sanctified during the period recorded in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth chapters of Acts.
The fifth chapter of Acts contains an address by the apostles, concerning the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ. Verses 24-32. If the day had been sanctified by God, in honor of the resurrection, had not the apostles delayed to mention the fact as long as they could innocently delay to speak of it? Or, if the apostles were to sanctify the day, had not the time come for them to commence that work? And was not this an occasion which demanded that they should speak boldly concerning this new day? They made not the slightest reference to this, which shows that they had nothing to say on the subject. The sixth chapter informs us that seven deacons were chosen, in consequence of trouble which arose concerning the distribution of alms. But this chapter says nothing concerning the sanctification of the first day, though that needed to be announced if it had taken place, and could not have been announced without exciting much discussion. The seventh chapter of Acts contains the defense of Stephen, in which he boldly charges upon the Jews the murder of Christ. Verse 52. He certainly would not have feared to tell them that God had already sanctified a new day, or that the apostles were preparing to do this, but he had nothing of this kind to say. The eighth chapter tells us that Philip went to Samaria, and preached with great success in that city. If the apostles, in preaching to the Jews, had been afraid to speak of the sanctification of the first day, lest they should offend them, Philip had no occasion to fear to speak on this subject at Samaria. He there spake freely of the sanctification of the first day, and it was absolutely necessary that he should instruct the Samaritans, that they might obey this new duty, if it existed, but he said one word on the subject. Then Philip was sent to the vicinity of Gaza, that he might preach to the eunuch of Ethiopia. God willed that the eunuch should be fitted to preach the gospel in Ethiopia. The eunuch was acquainted with the Old Testament (verses 30-33), and, therefore, knew the commandments of God. But if the first day had been sanctified to take the place of the seventh, it was necessary that the eunuch should be informed of this, that he might teach the Ethiopians their duty toward God. He had no occasion to fear the prejudices of the eunuch concerning the sanctification of the first day, but Philip said nothing to him on the subject. The first day was not sanctified during the period recorded in the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth chapters of Acts.
The ninth chapter records the conversion of Saul and the resurrection of Tabitha, but it says not one word to show that the apostles had taken even the first step toward the sanctification of the first day. The tenth chapter records the mission of Peter to the gentiles at Cesarea. After he had preached the gospel to them, he caused them to be baptized. He had then an assembly of converted gentiles that would not be offended to hear of the sanctification of the first day of the week, and that needed to know that it had been sanctified, if this were true, to save them from profaning it. But Peter had nothing to say on the subject, because no such sanctification had taken place. The eleventh chapter contains the confirmation and enlargement of the work among the gentiles. This chapter says that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. Here was an excellent opportunity to say that the first day had been sanctified for the Christian church, but Luke did not insert this declaration in his history of the work at Antioch, nor, indeed, in any other place. The twelfth chapter speaks of the imprisonment of Peter, and of his miraculous deliverance. It also tells us that the word of God grew and multiplied; but with all this increase of light and strength, not one word is spoken concerning the sanctification of the first day of the week. We are, therefore, certain that no such sanctification had taken place as late as the end of chapter twelve. We will continue the examination of this subject in our next number, if God permit. J. N. A.