Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.  ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God [YAHUAH] and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord [YAHUAH] added to their number daily those who were being saved. Note: This is the model of the first new testament church.

Romans 14:5

Some consider one day more sacred than another; others consider every day alike. Everyone should be fully convinced in their own mind. Note: Paul wrote this in the context of church practices of their day (Acts 2:46 above), where they continued to meet everyday. Yahushua's crucifixion had radically changed the sacrificial practices of the believing Jewish community and the Levitical laws that regulated them. In no way did Paul intend to suggest nullifying the Sabbath, but rather wrote this in regard to the saints joining for worship every day or choosing to participate in the sacrificial feasts in light of the fact that the sacrificial requirements for sin are fulfilled in Yahushua who is now our high priest (see Hebrews 5:10 & 7:27 below). It is ludicrous to think Paul was suggesting that somehow every man is now free to determine for himself if YAHUAH's Holy Day is still holy. 

Hebrews 5:10 being designated by God [YAHUAH] as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. 

Hebrews 7:27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when he offered up Himself. NASB

Colossians 2:13-17

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God [YAHUAH] made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. ¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.   Note: The written code with its regulations is not the Ten Commandments. The Greek word for commandments is "entole" and the Greek word for law is "nomos", neither word is used in Colossians 2:14. The Greek word "cheirographon" is translated into "written code" in the NIV Bible, but actually it means "handwritten document". The Greek word "dogma" is translated into "regulations" in the NIV Bible, but actually means "opinion or judgement". So verse 14 more accurately reads, "having canceled the handwritten document of judgement that was against us". The Ten Commandments were never "against us" they are for our benefit to protect us from what is against us - sin. This handwritten document of judgement was YAHUAH's record of the believers' sins which Yahushua took away by nailing it to the cross - for those saved by grace through faith. Those not saved, unbelievers, still have this document of judgement standing against them for the judgement day yet to come as described in  Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds." 

 In verse 15,the powers and authorities Yahushua disarmed at the cross were the religious leaders that were responsible for administering the daily sacrifices in the temple. Yahushua's death on the cross abolished this need for daily sacrifices for sin and hence the people no longer needed an earthly priest to receive forgiveness for their sins.  In verse 16, "do not let anyone judge you regarding... a Sabbath day" is referring to the hundreds of do's and don'ts the religious leaders added to YAHUAH's requirements for observing the Sabbath. These do's and don'ts are not found in the Bible but are found in their Talmud which are man's rules. There are numerous examples in the Gospels where the religious leaders judged Yahushua for his actions on many Sabbath days. Each time, Yahushua pointed out their error and hypocrisy in their judgments. 

When Paul wrote in verse 17, "These are a shadow" he used the present tense; had the Apostle Paul considered Sabbath-keeping no longer part of YAHUAH's law, he would have used the past tense "These were a shadow". Many times in the Old Testament the word shadow was used as a place of rest and refuge as it is in Psalm 91:3 "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of YAHUAH, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my Almighty, in whom I trust.” 

As an additional thought here; a shadow does not pass away until the light that creates it passes away and Yahushua is the light of the world. John 8:12 Then Jesus [Yahushua] spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. 

Lastly, were the NIV translates Paul as saying, "These are a shadow of the things that were to come" the translators incorrectly used the past tense "were". The KJV ("of things to come") and the NASB ("of what is to come") both use the present tense. In Paul's day as in our day, Yahushua had already ascended into heaven and what is left to come but Yahushua's second coming, our resurrection, and the new heaven and the new earth where we live in YAHUAH's presence eternally.  Can't wait!

Galatians 4:8-11

However at that time, when you did not know God [YAHUAH], you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. But now that you have come to know God [YAHUAH], or rather to be known by God [YAHUAH], how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰ You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. Note: The days, months, seasons, and years most certainly cannot be suggesting the Sabbath, YAHUAH's Holy Day, is now "weak and worthless". What is weak and worthless was the pagan religious days, months, seasons, and years that the newly-converted Galatian-believers once observed as part of their false religion. This is validated by verse 8.

Acts 21:24

Acts 24:14

However, I admit that I worship the God [YAHUAH] of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, Note: This is the Apostle Paul speaking to the Roman Governor Felix during his first trial in Caesarea. The word "nomos" is correctly translated here as "law" and clearly refers to the Commandments from YAHUAH.

Hebrews 4:9-11

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God [YAHUAH]; ¹⁰ for anyone who enters God’s [YAHUAH's] rest also rests from their works, just as God [YAHUAH] did from his. ¹¹ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.  Note: the word translated "Sabbath-rest" is the Greek word "Sabbatismos" which actually means "Sabbath-keeping." Therefore, Hebrews 4:9 should read, "There remains, then, a Sabbath-keeping for the people of YAHUAH." 

Nine times in the New Testament the Greek word "Sabbaton" which is the Greek word for Sabbath, is translated into  "day of week". The Greek word for week is "hebdomados" and does not appear anywhere in the New Testament manuscripts; however, it is found in the Greek translation of the Old Testament.  Fifty-nine times in the New Testament "Sabbaton" is translated into "Sabbath" or "Sabbath day" because it is the unique name for YAHUAH's holy day of rest. Here are two examples out of nine occurrences where "Sabbaton" is translated into "day of week" which significantly changes the scripture's meaning. These same scriptures are often used to not only refute the fact that YAHUAH's Sabbath remains forever, but also to claim that Sunday is now the Lords Day.

Acts 20:7  On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.  Note:  In the year 1881 Westcott and Hort published the well respected word-for-word translation of the original Greek New Testament, here is that translation for Acts 20:7: "In but the one of the Sabbaths having been led together of us to break bread the Paul was discoursing to them being about to be going out to the morrow he extended alongside and the word until midnight."  Note: It is reasoned by Bible translators that "one of the Sabbaths" translates into "first day of the week". 

1 Corinthians 16:2  On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.  Note:  The Westcott and Hort word-for-word translation of 1 Corinthians 16:2 reads:  "According to one of Sabbath each of you beside himself let him be putting treasuring up what if ever he may be making his way well in order that not whenever I should come then collections may be occurring."  

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God [YAHUAH] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Note: This being true, if we translate scripture in a way that contradicts other scriptures in the Bible, then we have mistranslated that scripture. Therefore, we must also not interpret any scripture in a way that contradicts other scripture. Since numerous New Testament scriptures (see obedience page) tells us that we must obey YAHUAH's commands, we can confidently believe no other New Testament scripture says or implies otherwise. The Apostle Peter refers to this issue rather undiplomatically in 2 Peter 3:16 where writing about the Apostle Paul he states, "... His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction." The Apostle Peter has much more to say about those who concoct and proliferate these distortions. The following two scriptures are a synopsis of his warning.

2 Peter 3:17-18  Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus [Yahushua] Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.  Note: "lawless men" is translated from the Greek word "athesmos" which means "one who breaks through the restraint of law and gratifies his lusts". This is referring to those who uphold the doctrine that declares the law (which includes the commandment to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy) was abolished on the cross.

2 Peter 2:1-3,21 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord [Yahushua] who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping... ²¹ It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Note: "the sacred command" is translated from the Greek "hagios entolē" which literally means "holy commandments" or "holy commandment". It is also of interest that the fourth commandment: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." is the only commandment YAHUAH wrote with his finger that includes the word holy and is also the only commandment of the ten that YAHUAH said to remember. It is no wonder Satan has poured so much effort into distorting its truth.

Ephesians 2:15-16 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God [YAHUAH] through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  Note: This scripture seems to contradict many other scriptures like the ones listed above and the scriptures quoted on the obedience page of this website. In an effort to harmonize scripture in our understanding, lets take a close but honest look at this much disputed scripture in Ephesians 2:15-16. First recognize that the NIV translation stated above fails to include “enmity” (word number 2189)  in verse 15 which helps to twist the meaning of the verse by implying God’s laws and commandments have been abolished.

KJV: Showing Strong’s word numbers for each word or word set

having abolished ²⁶⁷³ in ¹⁷²² his ⁸⁴⁶ flesh ⁴⁵⁶¹ the enmity ²¹⁸⁹, [even] the law ³⁵⁵¹ of commandments¹⁷⁸⁵ [contained] in ¹⁷²² ordinances ¹³⁷⁸; for to ²⁴⁴³make ²⁹³⁶ in ¹⁷²² himself ¹⁴³⁸ of twain ¹⁴¹⁷ one^1519 1520 new ²⁵³⁷ man ⁴⁴⁴, [so] making ⁴¹⁶⁰ peace¹⁵¹⁵; and ²⁵³² that he might reconcile ⁶⁰⁴ both ²⁹⁷ unto God ²³¹⁶ in ¹⁷²² one ¹⁵²⁰ body ⁴⁹⁸³ by ¹²²³ the cross ⁴⁷¹⁶, having slain ⁶¹⁵ the enmity ²¹⁸⁹ thereby^{1722  846}:

Mechanical Translation showing only word-for-word translation: abolished (in, by, or with) his flesh (enmity or hatred) law commandments (in, by, or with) ordinances to (make or create) (in, by, or with) himself two into one new man making peace and reconcile both God (in, by, or with) one body (by or through) cross kill (enmity or hatred) (in, by, or with) him. - The words in parentheses are equal translations of the word in scripture.

This scripture could also be interpreted as: abolished (with) his flesh the (hatred) of laws and commandments (in) ordinances to create (in or with) himself, the two into one new man, making peace and reconciling both to God (with) one body (through) the cross, killing  the (hatred) (with) himself   -   The bold words are inserted for clarity.

NASB: Showing Strong’s word numbers for each word or word set.

by abolishing ²⁶⁷³ in ¹⁷²² His ⁸⁴⁶ flesh ⁴⁵⁶¹ the enmity ²¹⁸⁹, which is the Law ³⁵⁵¹ of commandments¹⁷⁸⁵ contained in ¹⁷²² ordinances ¹³⁷⁸, so that ²⁴⁴³ in¹⁷²² Himself ⁸⁴⁶ He might make ²⁹³⁶ the two ¹⁴¹⁷ into¹⁵¹⁹ one ¹⁵²⁰ new ²⁵³⁷ man ⁴⁴⁴, thus establishing⁴¹⁶⁰ peace ¹⁵¹⁵, and ²⁵³² might reconcile ⁶⁰⁴ them both ²⁹⁷ in ¹⁷²²one ¹⁵²⁰ body ⁴⁹⁸³ to God ²³¹⁶ through ¹²²³ the cross⁴⁷¹⁶, by it having put to death ⁶¹⁵ the enmity ²¹⁸⁹.

Mechanical Translation showing only word-for-word translation: abolished (in, by, or with) his flesh (enmity or hatred) law commandments (in, by, or with) ordinances that (in, by, or with) him (make or create) two into one new man establishing peace and reconcile both (in, by, or with) one body God through cross kill (enmity or hatred).

This scripture could also be interpreted as: abolished (with) his flesh the (hatred) of laws and commandments (in) ordinances so that (in) him (creates) two into one new man establishing peace and reconciling both (in) one body to God through the cross, killing (hatred).    -    The bold words are inserted for clarity.

Also of interest is the 1969 interlinear word-for-word translation of the Original Greek by B.F. Westcott and F.J.A. Hort – 1881 is as follows:

the enmity in the flesh of him, the law of the commandments in decrees having made ineffective, in order that the two he might create in himself into one new man making peace, and he might fully reconcile the both in one body to the God through the stake having killed the enmity in him.

It should be clear here that:

1.       It was the enmity (hatred) between the flesh and YAHUAH’s law that was abolished (killed) by Yahushua on the cross.

2.       This enmity (hatred) was born through man’s (both Jew and Gentile) carnal nature  which excluded man from knowing YAHUAH, finding fulfillment in YAHUAH’s ways, and experiencing the blessings promised through YAHUAH’s covenant with his chosen people. This enmity (the work of Satan) was a perversion of YAHUAH’s intentions when He called the Israelites (the circumcised believers) apart from the Gentiles (the uncircumcised unbelievers) as a witness to the world of YAHUAH’s glory, power, and loving desire to bless those who lovingly obey Him.

3.       Yahushua, YAHUAH's word, became flesh in order to reconcile man back to YAHUAH by breaking down this evil wall of hostility to YAHUAH's law and make peace between the two groups (circumcised believers and uncircumcised unbelievers) uniting all who will believe into one body of believing followers of YAHUAH's word - His law.

 Romans 8:3-4

For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God [YAHUAH] did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

To read how, when, and why Christianity substituted Sunday for the Sabbath visit:     http://www.sabbathtruth.com/