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NASB | Acts 20:7 ¶ On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 20:7 ¶ Now on the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread (share communion), Paul began talking with them, intending to leave the next day; and he kept on with his message until midnight. |
Bible Question:
What is the origin or history of two church services on Sunday. I have heard that it was originally done so people could go home after the sunday morning service to milk the cows and then come back for an early evening sevice. Thanks |
Bible Answer: Dear Morleyde, In the Historic Baptist tradition -- the one I can address with the most first hand experience -- the setting aside of the Lord's Day is recommended as follows: "As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by His Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, He hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto Him, which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's Day: and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished. (Exodus 20:8; 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10) The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. (Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Matthew 12:1-13)" --1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, chapter 22, paragraph 7 and 8 Note the phrase "duties of necessity and mercy." This would permit the milking of the cows as you suggest. Acts of mercy would permit, for example, a Christian auto mechanic to stop and help out a little, old lady stranded along the road with car troubles. However, the rest of the day should be occupied with "public and private exercises of His worship." I am given to understand that it was not uncommon in ancient times for the Jews to stand (not sin) for the reading of entire books of the Bible all at once. Even the early Puritans would spend as much as eight hours together in corporate worship on Sunday. I suspect our present practice grew out of the influence of worldly values on our time, as well as the modern person's lack of discipline to concentrate on any one thing for any real length of time. All that written, I deem it a good way to spend the Lord's Day by starting it in corporate worship and closing it in corporate worship. In Him, Doc PS The Thomas Watson, long ago, wrote very clearly on the Christian's proper use of Sunday. http://www.apuritansmind.com/TheLordsDay/ThomasWatsonLordsDay.htm You might be interested in reading it, although the antiquated language makes it a bit difficult. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Acts 20:7 | Author | ||
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vacindak | ||
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Norrie | ||
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Monkey Inc, | ||
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Searcher56 | ||
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morleyde | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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MJH | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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bmeadow | ||
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