The Apostles and the Sabbath
The Apostles and the Sabbath.
“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. No prophet of the Old Testament foretold any change in the law of the Sabbath. Even Christ Himself had distinctly disclaimed any intention to annul even a jot or a tittle (the smallest letter or part of a letter) of the law. And He as positively avowed that no such change would be made as long as heaven and earth should stand. Matt. 5:17, 18; Luke 16:17. A change in the Sabbath day would be a marked change in the law. So any alleged change of the Sabbath could not possibly have the authority of Christ. The true prophet must speak by the authority of Christ. 1 Peter 1:10–12; 2 Peter 1:21. Therefore any one, no matter how exalted his position, even though he were an angel, who should assume to prophesy a change of the Sabbath, or assume to effect such change, would not have the sanction of Christ. There was no “Sabbath question” during Christ’s earthly ministry, excepting as to the manner of its observance. Even the pagan observance of the first day was not as a sabbath day, but as a “wild solar holiday.” The Sabbath during which Christ rested in the tomb was observed by the disciples “according to the commandment.” Luke 23:56. When we come to the ministration of the apostles, under the direct leadership of the Holy Spirit, there is no departure from the precept or example of Christ as regards the law of Ten Commandments. The Jews were none the less determined to stamp out the name and influence of Jesus of Nazareth than when He was among them. They were just as anxious to find occasion against those who taught in His name as they were to accuse Him. So even the works of benevolence and mercy performed by the apostles were made a pretext for stopping the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. Even when the rulers were constrained to acknowledge that “a notable miracle” had been done in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, they took occasion to command that all work in that name should be stopped. Acts 4:13–18; 5:25–28. Since the Jewish opponents of the name of Jesus were so determined to put an end to the work of the apostles, they surely would have found popular and conspicuous occasion against them had they in any way ignored the Sabbath day. The Jews were especially tenacious of their traditions concerning the Sabbath, and nothing would have suited their persecuting purpose better than to have found the apostles observing, and teaching others to observe, another day than the Sabbath of the commandment. But of all the complaints brought against the apostles, or any disciples of their day, there is not a hint in all the record that they ever were accused of Sabbath-breaking. This fact alone is convincing evidence that the apostles did not make any change in the day of the Sabbath, or in any way teach that there had been a change in the law of the Ten Commandments. The apostles, like their Master, were accused of disregarding the traditionary customs of the Jews, but there was no complaint that they substituted another day for the Sabbath. As far as the law of Ten Commandments was concerned, it was virtually acknowledged that there could be no fault found with the disciples. This virtual acknowledgment was made when, in the case of Stephen, they “set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law.” Acts 6:13. While this formal charge was made, those who made the accusation knew that it was not true.