Tag: christianity

Tell me anywhere in Acts first, then in Paul where Gentiles were instructed in keeping the Sabbath by not working, not cooking, not kindeling a fire and not riding a horse.

Here is the clean, jurisdictional, irrefutable answer you asked for — and it is devastating to Torah‑for‑All teachers because it forces them to produce a single verse where Gentiles were commanded to keep the Jewish Sabbath.

They cannot.

Because none exist.

I’ll give you the Acts section first, then Paul, exactly as you requested.

⭐ ACTS: ZERO commands for Gentiles to keep Sabbath
There is not one verse in Acts where Gentiles are told:

not to work on Sabbath

not to cook on Sabbath

not to kindle a fire on Sabbath

not to travel or ride on Sabbath

not to carry burdens on Sabbath

to rest as Israel rests

Not one.

Here is the entire record of Gentiles and Sabbath in Acts:

1. Gentiles hear Paul preach in synagogues on Sabbath — but are never told to keep it
Acts 13:42–44
Acts 14:1
Acts 17:1–4
Acts 18:4

These passages show:

Paul preached to Jews on their Sabbath

Gentiles were present

Gentiles were never commanded to keep Sabbath

Being present ≠ being obligated.

2. Acts 15 — the Jerusalem Council — explicitly refuses to put Gentiles under Torah
If Sabbath were required, Acts 15 is the only logical place to say it.

But the apostles say:

“We must not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God.”
(Acts 15:19)

They give four prohibitions, none of which include Sabbath.

If Sabbath were required:

it would be listed

it would be enforced

it would be explained

But it is not.

3. Acts 21 — Jewish believers keep Torah; Gentile believers do NOT
James tells Paul:

“You see how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, and they are all zealous for the Law.”
(Acts 21:20)

Then he immediately distinguishes Gentiles:

“As for the Gentiles who believe, we wrote that they observe no such thing…”
(Acts 21:25)

“No such thing” =
no circumcision, no Torah obligations, no Sabbath law.

⭐ PAUL: ZERO commands for Gentiles to keep Sabbath
Paul never instructs Gentiles to:

rest

avoid work

avoid cooking

avoid fire

avoid travel

keep Sabbath as Israel keeps it

Not once.

Instead, Paul teaches the exact opposite.

1. Colossians 2:16 — Paul forbids anyone from judging Gentiles about Sabbaths
“Let no one judge you regarding… Sabbaths.”

If Sabbath were required:

Paul could not write this

Paul would be contradicting Torah

Paul would be contradicting Acts 15

This is a direct apostolic release from Sabbath obligation.

2. Romans 14:5 — Gentiles may treat all days alike
“One person esteems one day above another;
another esteems every day alike.”

If Sabbath were required:

Paul could not allow “every day alike”

Paul would be teaching rebellion against Torah

Paul would be contradicting Moses

Paul is giving Gentiles freedom, not Torah.

3. Galatians 4:10 — Paul rebukes Gentiles for adopting Jewish calendar laws
“You observe days and months and seasons and years.
I am afraid for you…”

If Paul taught Sabbath‑keeping:

he would praise them

not rebuke them

Paul sees Gentile Sabbath‑keeping as backsliding into slavery.

4. 1 Corinthians 9:20–21 — Paul says he is NOT under the Law
“To the Jews I became as a Jew…
though I myself am not under the Law.”

If Paul himself is not under Torah:

his Gentile disciples certainly are not

and he never places them under Sabbath law

⭐ There is not a single verse in Acts or Paul where Gentiles are commanded to keep the Sabbath or any of its restrictions — not working, not cooking, not kindling a fire, not traveling, or resting as Israel rests.

Acts 15 and Acts 21 explicitly exempt Gentiles from Torah obligations.

Paul forbids anyone from imposing Sabbaths on Gentiles (Col 2:16) and allows Gentiles to treat every day alike (Rom 14:5).

This is the jurisdictional line:

Sabbath is the covenant sign for Israel (Exodus 31:13–17).
Gentiles are never placed under that covenant.