WHERE WAS THE SABBATH OBSERVED IN PAUL'S DAY?
One of the most common objections to the Sabbath is, that it cannot be kept, because the sun does not set at the same moment all around the world, and hence there is a difference in time at points situated east and west from each other. This difference of time, of course, we admit; but that it affects in any degree the observance of the Sabbath, we deny. The issue between us and our opponents on this point is this. We claim that the Sabbath was made for all mankind, and hence can be observed in all the habitable portions of the globe; so that the objection that it cannot be thus kept, impeaches the wisdom of God. They claim that it was only given to the Jews, who were so situated that the objection in their case does not apply. We now undertake to show that the facts in the case are fatal to their theory, even granting them the utmost that they can claim. The Jews, by the express direction of God were located in Canaan. It was incumbent on them to observe the Sabbath, under penalty of death, and to commence the day at the setting of the sun. Canaan, although lying principally north and south, had an average width, east and west, of sixty-five miles, a little more than a degree, involving a difference of time between its eastern and western limits of about five minutes. This, it may be said, is a small matter; so it is, yet it is a very appreciable difference in time, and is sufficient for our purpose. In the regions beyond Jordan, the sun set five minutes earlier than it did on the shores of the Mediterranean. Now what did the Jews do under these circumstances? Did those living by the sea commence the Sabbath five minutes before sundown, in order to commence it at the same time, absolutely, with those on the eastern borders of Canaan? Certainly not. Sunset marked the beginning of the Sabbath wherever they were in that land; yet there was a difference of time, absolutely, of five minutes. And did they all keep the Sabbath equally according to the commandment? They certainly did. Now suppose the assumption of our opponents to be true, that the Sabbath could not be kept unless commenced at the same absolute point of time in every place, what time should it have been in Canaan? sunset on the eastern border? or sunset on the western? Suppose it to have been when the sun set at Jerusalem, which was about midway east and west. Then those on the eastern borders of Canaan should have commenced the Sabbath two and a half minutes after sundown, and those on the west two and a half minutes before sundown. Will any man, however much committed to a theory, accuse the Jews of such a practice as this? He knows better. No; according to the position under notice, those who were to keep the Sabbath, should have been placed single file on some particular meridian, and warned not to leave it, under all the penalties that pertain to Sabbath breaking. If this is not so, then the claim of our opponents is an utter fallacy. But further, we read in Acts xviii, that Paul reasoned in the synagogue in Corinth every Sabbath for a year and six months. Corinth is about fifteen degrees west from Jerusalem, making a difference in time of nearly one hour. Now, according to our opponents, the Sabbath could not be kept in Jerusalem and in Corinth, also, because the sun sets one hour later at Corinth than at Jerusalem. But the record is that it was kept in both places; and the facts must stand, let what will, become of theories. Again, we read, “For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts xv, 21. This language was used by James when speaking of certain things which were to be recommended to the Gentiles, and proves that the Jews were scattered outside of the land of Judea, among the Gentiles, and had synagogues, and kept the Sabbath. There were synagogues in Damascus. Acts ix, 2. This was still further east than Jerusalem. There were also, without doubt, synagogues in Rome; for when Paul, having appealed to Caesar, went to that city, he called “the chief of the Jews together,” and told them why he had been sent to that place. These, says Dr. Clarke, were probably “chiefs of synagogues.” Then we have synagogues, or, at any rate, Jews, keeping the Sabbath, in Damascus and in Rome, the distance between these places being about twenty-four degrees of longitude, involving a difference of time of about one hour and thirty-six minutes. But we find the Sabbath kept still further east than Damascus. On the day of Pentecost, Acts ii, there were at Jerusalem, “Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” Mesopotamia is mentioned as one of the countries. Bishop Pearce shows that great numbers of Jews were settled in this country; and Philo says: “Not only the continents and provinces are full of Jewish colonies, but the most celebrated isles also, Eubœa, Cyprus, and Crete, not to mention the countries beyond the Euphrates.” Thus we find Jews, keeping the Sabbath of course, in Rome and in the countries beyond the Euphrates, the distance between them being nearly forty-five degrees, and the difference in time nearly three hours, or about the same as between New York and San Francisco. Here were Jews scattered all over these countries, and keeping the Sabbath in them all; and although the Sabbath commenced in Rome some three hours later than it did in the countries beyond the Euphrates, the Jew could keep the Sabbath in the former place, as well as in the latter. In view of these facts, it is useless for men to assert that the Sabbath cannot be kept except in those countries where there is no variation in the time of the sun's setting. These facts we have repeatedly urged upon the attention of our opponents, but have never succeeded in getting them to notice them. Their success in this line of argument depends upon their keeping them from the people.