THE APOSTLES AND THE SABBATH.
By G.
YES, Paul taught the seventh-day Sabbath to the Gentiles. He didn't make a message of it, because it was not necessary; the Sunday heresy had not yet found its way into the church. The disciples of Christ in Paul's time kept "the Sabbath according to the commandment," and when the Gentiles were converted they naturally followed the example of other Christians. There was no Sabbath issue at that time because there was no apostasy on that subject, as there is in these last days. When Paul and Barnabas came to Antioch in Pisidia, and the Jews rejected their message, "the Gentiles besought that these words [of the apostles] 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 13:42-44. Now nobody claims that this Sabbath day was any other than the seventh day; for every Bible student knows that the first day of the week is never called the Sabbath in the Scriptures. If the apostles were proclaiming a change of the Sabbath day, here was an excellent opportunity to say something about it. In those days the Jews were bringing all sorts of accusations against the Christian Church, but in no instance is there a charge of Sabbath-breaking. In Corinth the apostle Paul continued a year and six months, working at his trade and preaching on the Sabbath day. He preached in the synagog as long as the Jews would listen to him; and then, with some Jewish converts and the Gentiles who came to hear him, Paul held his meetings in a private house close by the synagog. Here was another excellent opportunity to make mention of the observance of another Sabbath day than that observed by the Jews; but the record is silent on the subject. Paul, on his arrival in Rome the first time, "called the chief of the Jews together," and, among other things, said to them, "I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers." This is proof positive that he did not observe any other Sabbath day than that observed by the Jews. Yes, the Christian ministers in Paul's day all taught the observance of the Sabbath day, and all the moral law of God (See Rom. 3:31). The Jews condemned them for ignoring circumcision and the ceremonial law, but never a word against them for violating the Sabbath of the Lord; and on nothing would they have made so loud a noise had there been any occasion for it. The Lord had proclaimed that He had not come to do away with a jot or tittle of the law, and the apostles did not assume to make any change. They held to their commission and taught what He had taught them.