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 depart the next day, and he prolonged his message till midnight."
As Paul made his way back to Jerusalem at the conclusion of a third missionary journey, he came to the city of Troas in Asia Minor. Evidently he arrived on Monday, and although he was in a hurry to move on toward Jerusalem, (v.16), he nevertheless tarried in Troas for seven days, or through the following Sunday. The purpose for his delay is indicated in the text, " ... on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together." Knowing it was the practice of the Christians there to assemble each Sunday, Paul knew that if he waited until then he would be able to meet with them. With the passing of the authority of the Mosaic Law, the sacred day of the week for God's people had changed. The Fourth Commandment, (Ex. 20:8), had decreed, "Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy." For a period of about fifteen hundred years the nation of Israel observed Saturday as a day of rest, worship and devotion to God. During Jesus' ministry, which spanned the last days of the authority of the Mosaic Law, He faithfully observed this commandment, as He did every commandment. We read in Lk. 4:16. "And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath." It was Jesus' custom (settled practice) to meet with fellow Jews on the Sabbath Day to worship God, "leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps," (I Pet. 2:21).
When Jesus was crucified, He fulfilled the Law of Moses and terminated its authority. We read in Col. 2:14 that Jesus "cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He took it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." At dawn on the third day thereafter, which was Sunday, (Mk. 16:1-2), Jesus came forth from the tomb. A new era had also dawned for mankind ... and on Sunday at that! The day is to be honored as the one on which our Lord was resurrected, proclaiming victory over sin and death, (Rev. 1:18). Sunday is also the birthday of the church. The church was established on Pentecost, which fell on Sunday. The day is to be honored as the one on which God swung open the door of His eternal kingdom for admittance to all who in faith will obey His gospel. Acts 20:7 is our approved example for gathering together to worship our Supreme God. As those under the Mosaic Law had to "remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy," it is necessary for Christians to "remember the Lord's Day (Sunday), to keep it holy." It is not optional for Christians to meet on Sunday to worship. In fact, it is not even a question open for discussion. To the contrary, it is a sin if we don't, (Heb. 10:25-26)!
The focal point of the Christian assembly in Troas was "to break bread," that is, to observe the Lord's Supper. Paul had well taught these brethren just what he had taught those in Corinth: "The Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, 'This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of Me'," (I Cor. 11:23-25). Acts 20:7 is our approved example for determining the time of "as oft as you drink it." Those Christians, who were under the supervision of the apostle Paul, who in turn was under the supervision of the Holy Spirit, met "on the first day of the week" to observe the Lord's Supper. As each week arrives, it begins with a "first day," Sunday. As often as that happens, about 52 times a year, it is the duty of Christians to assemble together in their congregations to memorialize their Lord's death for their sins in this sacred meal.
