In the 13th chapter of the Book of Acts, Satan’s blinding power is displayed more clearly than in almost any other passage in the Bible. In the 14th verse of Acts 13, we read, “But when they (Paul and Barnabas) departed from Perga (the modern day city of Murtina, Turkey), they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.” In the 15th verse of Acts 13, the synagogue rulers invite Paul and Barnabas to speak to the congregation. Paul does so, and from verse 16 through verse 41 is recorded the sermon Paul then delivered to that congregation.
It is in verses 42 through 44, we then see displayed Satan’s awesome blinding power, for many thousands of Sunday observing preachers have read and expounded on these verses unable to see what they so clearly and unmistakably say. I now quote from the King James Version of the Bible these three all-important verses: “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, THE GENTILES BESOUGHT THAT THESE WORDS MIGHT BE PREACHED TO THEM THE NEXT SABBATH.” (Verse 42). “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.” (verse 43). AND THE NEXT SABBATH DAY CAME ALMOST THE WHOLE CITY TOGETHER TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.” (verse 44).
Friend, if God’s sacred, eternal sabbath day had been replaced by Sunday observance many years before, Paul would not have had these Gentiles wait until the next sabbath day to preach to them the grace of God. He would have informed them that by the grace of God the sabbath had been abolished following Jesus Christ’s resurrection and that he would meet with them the very next day – Sunday, what multitudes erroneously call “the Lord’s Day! In the 20th chapter of the Book of Acts, when Paul does meet with fellow believers on a Sunday, it is NOT because the day long set aside by the pagans for worship of the sun god had replaced God’s sacred, eternal sabbath, but because it was being rumored that Paul was leaving the area never to return. Believers waited until the holy sabbath had passed before making the arduous journey to Troas to hear Paul speak one last time. Nothing in the text says they met together every Sunday. (See Acts 20:25).
“You have rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from your commandments” (Psalm 119:21). “The works of his hands are truth and judgment. ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE SURE. THEY STAND FAST FOR EVER AND EVER, and are done in truth and uprightness” (Psalm 111:7-8). The Ten Commandments were written by the finger of God on two stone tablets. (Exodus 31:18). The Ten Commandments were not the work of Moses. They were and are the work of God, written by His own hand. Again, Satan’s blinding power is seen in another Bible passage that clearly states ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE SURE. THEY STAND FAST FOR EVER AND EVER! Jesus Christ Himself said the sabbath was made FOR MAN – not just the Jew! (See Mark 2:27-28). The sabbath was sanctified at the time of the creation of man – centuries before the first Jew was born! (See Genesis 2:2-3). Adam was not a Jew! The sabbath will still be sacred to God in the new heavens and new earth and ALL FLESH will honor it then though refusing to do so now.
The foregoing words of eternal truth will judge every believer who appears before the judgment seat of Christ. I guarantee you thousands of preachers and Bible teachers will stand before their Lord at that day wishing they had not been so headstrong and unteachable in this life.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley