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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · July 23, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 6

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THE SABBATH IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

By JOHN MATTESON

When we show from the New Testament that the apostles as well as the Jews and Gentiles recognized the seventh day as the Sabbath, we often meet the objection that this was only conforming to the Jewish customs in new places where there was no Christian church. But, say they, if you can prove that the apostles recognized the seventh day as the Sabbath in places where there was a Christian church established, then we will believe.
Well, we can prove this from the acts of the apostles. About A. D. 45, Paul and his company went to Antioch, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. After Paul had preached, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. Acts xiii, 14, 42, 44. Was there any Christian church in this place at that time? Certainly. There had been a church there for at least two years, and they were well instructed in the religion of Christ. About the year A. D. 43, Barnabas and Saul went to Antioch. Acts xi, 25, 26. Already previous to this, the Lord Jesus had been preached there by other disciples, and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. Verses 19-21. When Paul and Barnabas came, they tarried there a whole year, assembling themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Verse 26. Here, then, was an early Christian church, well instructed in the true religion of Christ. Yet there is not the slightest intimation that they knew anything about the first-day Sabbath; but it is evident that the apostles and the church, as well as the Jews and Gentiles in Antioch, all acknowledged the seventh day to be the Sabbath of the Lord. No doubt the Christian church in the last days will imitate the example of the primitive church in its purest state.
JOHN MATTESON.