Act 20:7, 1Cor 16:2 | PNT | STEP | On the first [day] of the week, when , etc. The language shows that it was the custom to meet on the first day of the week, and shows the leading object of that meeting. This was not a farewell meeting for Paul, for then the day of the week would not have been mentioned, but the regular weekly assemblage of the saints. They came together, primarily to break bread , i.e., to observe the Lord's Supper. Dean Howson says: ``We have here an unmistakable allusion to the practice, which began evidently immediately after the resurrection of our Lord, of assembling on the first day of the week for religious purposes.'' He also shows that the Lord arose on the first day of the week, showed himself to the apostles a second time one week later on the first day of the week, that the church was founded and the Holy Spirit shed forth on Pentecost, which was on the first day of the week. On the same day the disciples at Troas meet to break bread, the Corinthians meet, take collections, and eat the Lord's Supper ( ), and the Lord on Patmos reveals himself to John ( ). In addition to this, the early church writers from Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, to Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Cyprian, all with one consent, declare that the church observed the first day of the week. They are equally agreed that the Lord's Supper was observed weekly, on the first day of the week. Paul preached . Though it was the special object of this weekly meeting "to break bread", preaching was a part of the worship. Continued his speech until midnight . About to depart, probably never to see them more, all were anxious to hear the great apostle, and he had much to say.

Acts 20:7

On the first [day] of the week, when, etc. The language shows that it was the custom to meet on the first day of the week, and shows the leading object of that meeting. This was not a farewell meeting for Paul, for then the day of the week would not have been mentioned, but the regular weekly assemblage of the saints. They came together, primarily to break bread, i.e., to observe the Lord's Supper. Dean Howson says: ``We have here an unmistakable allusion to the practice, which began evidently immediately after the resurrection of our Lord, of assembling on the first day of the week for religious purposes.'' He also shows that the Lord arose on the first day of the week, showed himself to the apostles a second time one week later on the first day of the week, that the church was founded and the Holy Spirit shed forth on Pentecost, which was on the first day of the week. On the same day the disciples at Troas meet to break bread, the Corinthians meet, take collections, and eat the Lord's Supper (1Co 16:2 11:20), and the Lord on Patmos reveals himself to John (Re 1:10). In addition to this, the early church writers from Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, to Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Cyprian, all with one consent, declare that the church observed the first day of the week. They are equally agreed that the Lord's Supper was observed weekly, on the first day of the week.

Paul preached. Though it was the special object of this weekly meeting "to break bread", preaching was a part of the worship.

Continued his speech until midnight. About to depart, probably never to see them more, all were anxious to hear the great apostle, and he had much to say.

1 Corinthians 16:2

Upon the first [day] of the week. This shows that the first day of the week was set apart and regarded by the church. The church assembled to break bread on that day (Ac 20:7).

Let every one of you lay by him in store. The usual view is that every one was directed to set aside something on the Lord's day and keep it until Paul came. This view is sanctioned by the translations and most of the commentators. Macknight renders: "On the first day of the week, let each one of you lay somewhat by itself, put it into the treasury". I believe Macknight is right; for (1) there were to be no collections when Paul came. That implies that the money was to be placed in the treasury. Otherwise, it would have to be collected. (2) "Thesaurizoon", rendered in the Common Version "in store", is a present participle, meaning literally, "putting into the thesaurus", or "treasury". (3) All church history testifies that the early church took up weekly collections on the first day of the week. See Pliny's Letter to the Emperor Trajan. (4) We know, from Acts, and from all early church history, that the church met on the first day of the week. It only remains to add that "par heauto", rendered by the translators "by him", is rendered with equal correctness, "by itself". Its form is that of the neuter reflexive pronoun.

As [God] hath prospered him. Each week every one is to give according to his ability.