The Bible tell us that Paul kept the seventh day Sabbath in the following passages:
1-It was Paul’s custom to observe the Sabbath.
“Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2).
2-The apostle continued in keeping the Sabbath not just with the Jews but also with the gentiles.
“But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.” “So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.” And “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God” (Acts 13:14,42,44).
3-The apostle kept the Sabbath even in gentile cities where there were no synagogues.
“And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there” (Acts 16:13).
4-The apostle observed 78 Sabbaths in Corinth persuading both Jews and Greeks (Acts 18: 11).
“After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks” Acts (18:1-4).
The above passage tells us that the apostle “reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath.” But how long did he stay in Corinth? The Bible tells us, “And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Act 18:8-11). The apostle was there every Sabbath for a year and six months. If we counted this period, it will would add up to 52 Sabbaths in a year plus 26 Sabbaths in the following six months which gives us a total of 78 Sabbaths.
What Sabbaths did the apostle abolish in his writings?
In his wrings, the apostle referred to the Sabbaths that were abolished at the cross (Colossians 2:14-17; Ephesians 2:15). These were the 7 annual Jewish sabbath feasts, which were also called sabbaths (Leviticus 23). These were in addition to, or “besides the Sabbaths of the Lord” (Leviticus 23:38). Their main significance was in foreshadowing, or pointing to, the cross and ended at the cross.
For more on the difference between the weekly seventh day Sabbath of God’s Law and the yearly ceremonial Sabbaths or feasts of Moses’ Law, check the following link: Are God’s law and Moses’ law the same?
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
