Michael Harris

What is the correct or best translation of Acts 20: 7? 

Does early scripture sources say first day of week or Saturday evening? This seems to be primary the justification for changing Sabbath worship to Sunday worship. - 

First and foremost, “Context is King.” This is one of the first things everyone is taught when determining what Scripture is saying. Remember, “A text taken out of context is no more than a pretext… to keep you from learning what is being said and to get you to believe what I want you to believe!”

Now, the context of the actual text is first, foremost and essential! Once we have that, then (and only then) we must consider the context of when it is being spoken, where it is being spoken, who is speaking and who is being spoken to.

The context of the text here is Acts, Chapter 20… and the context is “after the days of Unleavened Bread.” (Acts 20:5 - just two verses prior). This pinpoints the exact time of year. The Law required seven “Sabbaths” to be counted and observed to Shavout (Feats of Sevens (Weeks)/Pentecost). Acts 20:7 is referring to “One” of these seven “sabbaths” which also took place on the regular weekly sabbath. The Sabbath was the “day” they “regularly” gathered.

The Greek of Acts 20:7 is “mia ho sabbaton” which is literally “one of the sabbaths.” The word “day” (hemera) is not even in verse 20:7! “Day” is a word that has been added and is not in the original text. In the Greek “first day” would be “protos hemera” as it appears in the SAME chapter (Acts 20:18) just 11 verses after the verse in question (Acts 20:7).

Back to the CONTEXT of Acts 20:7. How we confirm that Luke is writing about “one” (not “first”) of the seven “sabbaths” (sabbaton) in the seven sabbaths count to Shavuot (Pentecost) in Acts 20:7 is that in Acts 20:16 (just 9 verses later) we are told that Paul is doing this very thing! He is on his way to keep Shavuot (Pentecost)!!!! This is why “Context is King!” It prevents the error from being made and when some insist the error is correct… it exposes error!

Understand, Hebrews had no word for “week.” They used the Hebrew word for “Sevens” (Shabua) to identify this. This differs from “Shabat” which is the day of rest or specifically “the 7th Day” which began Friday at sundown and ended the following sundown on Saturday. A “Sabbath” (Day of Rest) or the specific “Seventh Day” is translated in the Greek Septuagint (in 250 B.C. by Jewish rabbis) as “Sabbaton.” A “Sabbaton” is always a “Sabbath Day of Rest” and most generally it is used for the specific “7th Day” but can be (and is) used for a “High Sabbath Day as well. A “High Sabbath” is a commanded “Day of Rest” like the first day of Unleavened Bread which falls on a day other than the regular weekly sabbath day. In Acts 20:7 the word translated “week” is “sabbaton!” And, is always the “Seventh Day of Rest.”

As to the CONTEXT beyond the actual text. This is the first century with all the Jews still in Judea! It is being written by a Jew (Yes, Luke was very likely Jewish), for people living among the Jews, about people who were Jews (Paul), in the land of the Jews and in the lands where Jews were living. The first century “Church” consisted of a very generous ratio of 90 Jews to every 10 grafted in Gentiles… and many see the ratio as more like 99 to 1. Now, say the Greek word “Sabbaton” among this group at this time and they all knew exactly what it was… even you can see it… Sabbath… Sabbaton! It really is that easy.

Now lets very briefly talk about the real issue… keeping the Sabbath Seventh Day of Rest vs. keeping the first day, Sunday (SUN(god)day) as a new day of rest. The 7th day originates at Creation with Adam. Adam kept the 7th day and rested with God. It is NOT and never has been of “Jewish” origin… the origin is Creation… and we are told the 7th day was CREATED for Man… as was and is a good gift God gave to… (and is for) all of mankind. This is why Israel was forbidden to make or even allow non-covenant people to work on this day.

Next, examine the 10 Commandments! God knows ALL things. Yes? He, therefore, knows what we will “remember” and what we will forget! Yes? So, when we come to the 10 Commandments, we find there is one and one alone which we are specifically told NOT to forget… that one command is, “REMEMBER to keep the sabbath… HOLY (Set apart, separated for God’s purpose)” God does not say… Remember to not take my name in vain… or… Remember not to murder… or… Remember to not bear false witness! No! No! No! The one command we are told to “REMEMBER” is the one command God knew would become forgotten! He is showing us this very plainly! Why? Because it is THE SIGN of ALL the covenants with God! Remember… Adam had a covenant with God… and that 7th Day Sabbath goes back to Adam and Creation! All of God’s commands serve one purpose and one purpose alone… they are God’s definition of HOW we express our love for Him… not to be saved… but because we are saved! Do you want to show God that you truly believe Him and love Him for what He has done for you? Great! Keep all His commandments! Will you fail? Yes! Only God possesses the ability to love perfectly! We are fallen! That is why we need forgiveness. All sin is a failure on our part to love God.

This is why the Scriptures say…

Now by this, we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 Jn 2:3–4

By this, we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 Jn 5:2–3

It is likewise why we are warned…

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:19

The seventh-day Sabbath, day of rest was never changed in Scripture. This is an assumption which is furthered by bad translations of the Greek text. The Roman Catholic Church is likewise adamant about this. They rightly assert and take full responsibility for being the “group” who changed this command by their divine right and authority. This is no secret and a well-established fact. The Roman Catholic has further asserted that since all “Protestant Churches” are obeying them in worshiping on the first day (Sunday) instead of the seventh day of Scripture… all Protestant Churches should return to the Roman Catholic fold. It can be found on numerous Roman Catholic web sites.

We hope this is of some help to those seeking truthful answers. Many people, across many denominations, are beginning to see the truth… and understand its value and importance. To those who still wish to argue that it really doesn’t matter… if that is true… then why not keep the seventh day? After all… what if you are wrong and it really does matter? Is it not better to err on the side of caution? Keeping the seventh day of rest as mandated in Scripture as a reflection of our love for God can be easily and overwhelming supported in Scripture while the plain truth is… there is no support in Scripture for keeping the first day of the week. None. And, at least the Roman Catholic Church does have that much correct! The question then remains… “Do you really believe ANY “Church Body” has the authority to change the commands of God established in Scripture? If so, then know one thing… this is very dangerous ground! Do not think for a second that other commands cannot be modified or changed… they can be… and history bears witness that they have been! Yet, the command is also equally clear… no one is to add to… or take away from… the Word of God. This is why “CONTEXT” is so very important when dealing with Scriptures such as Acts 20:7.