Is Sunday mentioned?

Since the scriptures do not contain the word “Sunday” but do refer to it as the “first day of the week”, let's look at the references containing this phrase to see where it mentions that this day has replaced the Sabbath in observance.

Matthew 28:1

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Discussion Question:

1. Why is it important that this scripture mentions both “the first day of the week” and “sabbath”?

Mark 16:2

2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Mark 16:9

9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Discussion Question:

1. Refer to Mark 16:1 to see if these scriptures are referring to the Sabbath or to the day after the Sabbath.

Luke 24:1

1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

John 20:1

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Discussion Question:

1. When do you think both of these scriptures were written compared to the time of the actual events described?

John 20:19

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Discussion Question:

1. Christians use this scripture to show they were gathered together on Sunday to worship. But what is the reason given in this scripture for their gathering?

2. What was this fear they had? All they knew up until this point was that the grave was open and Yahshua was not there.

Acts 20:7

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

Discussion Question:

1. When did the day start and end in the scriptures?

2. If midnight occurs on a scriptural day, is it in the early part of the day or the late?

1 Corinthians 16:2

2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Discussion Questions:

1. Sunday keepers will point out that this was a collection just as they do every Sunday. Read Romans 15:25-28 to know what this collection was for.

2. Why does it say “lay by him in store” so that there “be no gatherings when I come”?

Sabbath Keeping Apostles

If none of the references about the first day of the week show to be keeping Sunday, then the apostles must have shown by example which day to keep.

Acts 13:14-15, 42-44

14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Discussion Questions:

1. Notice that they didn't ask the apostles to come back on the following day (first day of the week) to speak. So which day was observed, not only by the apostles, but by those who were in the city?

Acts 15:1-2, 5, 14-21

Acts 16:12-15

12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Acts 18:1-11

Discussion Questions:

1. In the last reference from Acts, is there a distinction between work days and the Sabbath?