Every Sabbath by R. F. Cottrell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 28, 1886

"Every Sabbath."

By R. F. Cottrell

"And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks." Acts 18:4.

THE no-Sabbath man can find his theory abundantly refuted by reading the Acts of the Apostles. The inspired writer repeatedly declares that certain things were done upon the Sabbath. This could not be true if no Sabbath existed at the time. Hence the Sabbath had not ceased at the cross, but still existed when the labors and travels of Paul were recorded.

Paul was in the habit of preaching on the Sabbath day. But it is objected by no-Sabbath and first-day-Sabbath men, that Paul did not himself observe the "Jewish Sabbath," but only preached to the Jews that day, because he could then find them assembled.

Very well. What day of the week was that? "All admit that the Jewish Sabbath was the seventh day of the week, or Saturday."

But look at this, friend. Paul abode at Corinth a considerable length of time, laboring at the trade of tent-making on other days, while he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, persuading both the Jews and the Greeks. Mark, the inspired record says "every Sabbath." Now if these meetings were held on the seventh day, that was the only Sabbath existing at that time; for they were held every Sabbath. But if the first day was the Sabbath at that time, then Paul reasoned in the synagogue every first-day, or Sunday. Hence the Jews must have changed their day of meeting in the synagogue to the (so-called) "Christian Sabbath." No one will pretend that this was the case. Hence the first day was not the Sabbath at this time. R. F. COTTRELL.