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 In
the American Bible Society’s “Today’s English” version
of the New Testament, Acts 20:7 is made to read:
“On
Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal.”
The Greek text contains no word to remotely suggest “fellowship;”
and the day is identified as “mia ton sabbaton” — an
expression recognized elsewhere as meaning “first (day) of the
week.” The only possible excuse for translating “Saturday
evening” is the obvious late hour, and the assumption that
Jewish reckoning (beginning the day at 6: p.m.) was observed.
Even if this is correct “Saturday evening” is a comment; not
a translation.
But
I am told that one church on the west coast is now meeting on
Saturday evening for worship, and others are disturbed. I
suppose the basic questions are: (1) Did the Holy Spirit use
only Jewish time- reckoning? and, (2) Does its use (partially or
wholly) have a binding significance. or was it only incidental?
Perhaps
the best known example of Roman time—count (the day beginning
at midnight) is in John 19:14. Here John says Jesus was on trial
before Pilate at the “sixth hour.” But Mark says Jesus was
crucified the “third hour.” (Mk. 15:25) There is no
contradiction. John uses Roman time here, (Jesus was before
Pilate at 6: a.m. ) and Mark used Jewish time, (Christ was
crucified at 9: a.m.).
We
may have another example of Roman time-count in John 20:19. “Then
the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when
the doors were shut where the
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disciples were assembled for fear of
the Jews.. .“ We would judge this a later- than-sundown “evening”
on the basis of immediate contest. Westcott says, “The hour
was evidently late, about 8: p.m. Time must be allowed for the
return of the disciples from Emmaus, who were not likely to
leave Jerusalem till after the evening prayer (Acts 3:1).”
(Cf. Lu. 24:29,33,36) In fact, Westcott contends that John used
Roman reckoning in all “time” passages, “followed a
practice of the province in which he was living and for which he
was writing.” (Gospel According to John; p. 282.)
With
even one clear example of Western time-reckoning in the word of
God, can we say Jewish time-count is bound upon us? What about
the Jewish calendar? Perhaps it is worth mention that by
worshipping after midnight Saturday, and before 6:
p.m. Sunday, we are within the limits of both the Roman and
Jewish time-count.
Several
years ago the Firm Foundation carried a news item from some
preacher in Europe (Switzerland, I believe) telling of a baptism
on Saturday afternoon, after which they returned to the hotel
room for the Lord’s Supper. I wrote a letter to the address
given, but have never received a reply. I felt then, although
without real evidence, that perhaps it was a young man, carried
away with the emotional fever generated by too many college “devotionals.”
It may be that today’s itch to break with “traditions” of
“the establishment” has led some to revive the old Jewish
arguments. Herbert Armstrong could be the fly in the oil. Let us
spray!
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