How does Acts 20:7 connect with the Lord's Day observance? Setting the Scene in Acts 20:7 “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he prolonged his message until midnight.” (Acts 20:7) Key Observations from the Text • “First day of the week” shows a specific, regular time—not a random evening. • “We came together” indicates a corporate gathering of believers. • “To break bread” points to the Lord’s Supper/communion. • Paul’s extended teaching implies the meeting’s importance and its worshipful nature. Why the First Day Matters • The first day commemorates Christ’s resurrection (John 20:1; Mark 16:2). • It distinguishes the new-covenant church from the old-covenant Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11). • Gathering on the first day displays allegiance to the risen Lord, not merely to a calendar rule. Breaking Bread and Worship: Early Christian Pattern • Acts 2:42, 46 shows believers “breaking bread” in fellowship and worship. • Acts 20:7 links this act specifically to the first day, suggesting a developing rhythm. • The Lord’s Supper was central, not peripheral, making the day itself sacred in practice. Supporting Passages on First-Day Gathering • 1 Corinthians 16:2: “On the first day of every week, each of you is to set aside a portion of his income…”—financial worship joins corporate worship. • Revelation 1:10: “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit…”—John identifies the day by a title tied to Jesus. • John 20:19, 26: Jesus appears to the disciples twice on successive first days, reinforcing their significance. From First Day to “Lord’s Day” • By the end of the apostolic era, “Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10) had become shorthand for the first day. • The church’s pattern moved from temple/Sabbath worship to resurrection-celebration worship. • Acts 20:7 gives a snapshot of that transition in action—communion, preaching, fellowship, all on Sunday. Practical Takeaways for Today • Sunday worship is grounded in apostolic practice, not later tradition. • Regular communion reminds believers that the risen Christ is central every Lord’s Day. • Setting aside time, resources, and attention on Sunday follows Paul’s model of holistic worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). • The Lord’s Day remains a weekly invitation to celebrate resurrection life, gather with the saints, and sit under the Word—just as the church did in Troas. |
    |