Saturday vs Sunday Worship: The Biblical Evidence
The numbers tell the story. Scripture mentions the Sabbath over 140 times. The phrase "seventh day" appears 56 times, always identifying it as the Sabbath. By contrast, the phrase "first day of the week" appears only 8 times in the New Testament, and none of these passages command worship on that day.
The Fourth Commandment identifies Saturday as the day of rest. The change to Sunday came through church tradition, not biblical authority. The Roman Catholic Church openly claims responsibility for the change and calls Sunday observance the mark of its authority.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Saturday (Sabbath) | Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Commands | Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) | No command in Scripture |
| Origin | Creation (Genesis 2:2-3) | Roman legislation (321 AD) |
| Jesus's practice | His "custom" (Luke 4:16) | No recorded Sunday worship |
| Apostolic practice | Acts 13:42-44, Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4 | One evening meeting (Acts 20:7) |
| Authority claimed | God's own writing (Exodus 31:18) | Church tradition |
| Who changed it? | Never changed in Scripture | Roman Catholic Church admits the change |
The Verse Count
Scripture speaks for itself. Here is the biblical evidence for each day:
The Bible mentions the Sabbath over 140 times. The phrase "seventh day" appears 56 times, always identifying it as the Sabbath. By contrast, the phrase "first day of the week" appears only 8 times in the New Testament, and none of these passages command worship on that day.
Search the Bible yourself and verify this claim.
The Sunday Verses Examined
Three passages are commonly cited for Sunday worship. None establish a new day of worship:
Acts 20:7 — "The first day of the week"
This describes a Saturday night farewell meeting (biblically the first day began at sunset). Paul spoke until midnight and departed at dawn. This was a single event, not a weekly pattern. No command is given.
1 Corinthians 16:2 — "Upon the first day of the week"
Paul instructed believers to set aside money at home on the first day ("lay by him in store") so collections would be ready when he arrived. This describes personal bookkeeping, not a worship assembly.
Revelation 1:10 — "The Lord's day"
This phrase does not mean Sunday. Jesus called Himself "Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:28). Isaiah 58:13 calls the Sabbath "my holy day." The Lord's day is the Sabbath, not Sunday.
For complete analysis of these verses and 19 other objections, see Appendix B: Common Objections Answered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Saturday and Sunday worship?
Saturday worship follows the biblical seventh-day Sabbath commanded in the Fourth Commandment. Sunday worship follows church tradition that began in the 4th century through Roman legislation. The Bible commands the seventh day; no verse commands Sunday worship.
How many verses command Saturday Sabbath worship?
The Bible contains over 140 references to the Sabbath, including the Fourth Commandment, Jesus's example, and apostolic practice. The term "seventh day" appears 56 times in Scripture. Zero verses command Sunday worship.
What about Acts 20:7 and the first day of the week?
Acts 20:7 describes a single Saturday night farewell meeting before Paul's departure at dawn. The phrase "first day of the week" simply dates the event. This verse contains no command to worship on Sunday.
Go Deeper
Interactive Studies
- Sabbath vs Sunday: Complete Comparison — Interactive study with all evidence
- Find the Sunday Command — Search Scripture yourself
- Objection Handler — Quick responses by verse