Acts 20:7 Contradictions and Paradoxes

According to Luke, this verse means that the first Christians met on Sunday to share a special meal and listen to teachings about Jesus. Paul, who loved sharing stories about Jesus, talked to them for a long time, even until midnight, because he was leaving the next day.

Contradiction with Exodus 20:8-11

Contradicts by establishing the seventh day as the Sabbath, a day of rest, which differs from meeting on the first day of the week as in Acts 20:7.

Exodus 20:8-11: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Contradiction with Matthew 12:8

States that the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day, implying the sanctity of the Sabbath rather than the first day of the week.

Matthew 12:8: For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Contradiction with Mark 2:27

Suggests the Sabbath was made for man, emphasizing its importance, potentially conflicting with gathering on Sunday as in Acts 20:7.

Mark 2:27: And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

Contradiction with Luke 6:5

Reiterates that the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath, suggesting a focus on the traditional Sabbath day instead of the first day meeting noted in Acts 20:7.

Luke 6:5: And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Contradiction with Genesis 2:2-3

God sanctified and rested on the seventh day, indicating a divine precedent for the Sabbath, contrary to the practice in Acts 20:7 of meeting on the first day.

Genesis 2:2-3: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Contradiction with Hebrews 4:4-9

Emphasizes rest on the seventh day and the perpetual rest for God's people, which may contrast with meeting on the first day as practiced in Acts 20:7.

Hebrews 4:4-9: For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Paradox #1

One historical inconsistency with this verse could be about the timing and practice of early Christian gatherings. Some argue that meeting on the first day of the week, as described, conflicts with other historical records suggesting that early Christians, who were mostly Jews, might still have observed the Sabbath, which is Saturday. This raises questions about when the shift from Saturday to Sunday worship actually occurred in early Christianity.