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Selected Verse: Acts 20:7 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ac 20:7 |
King James |
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together--This, compared with Co1 16:2, and other similar allusions, plainly indicates that the Christian observance of the day afterwards distinctly called "the Lord's Day," was already a fixed practice of the churches.
Paul preached--discoursed. The tense implies continued action--"kept discoursing." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And upon the first day of the week - Showing thus that this day was then observed by Christians as holy time. Compare Co1 16:2; Rev 1:10.
To break bread - Evidently to celebrate the Lord's Supper. Compare Act 2:46. So the Syriac understands it, by translating it, "to break the eucharist"; that is, the eucharistic bread. It is probable that the apostles and early Christians celebrated the Lord's Supper on every Lord's day.
And continued his speech until midnight - The discourse of Paul continued until the breaking of day, Act 20:11. But it was interrupted about midnight by the accident that occurred to Eutychus. The fact that Paul was about to leave them on the next day, probably to see them no more, was the principal reason why his discourse was so long continued. We are not to suppose, however, that it was one continued or set discourse. No small part of the time might have been passed in hearing and answering questions, though Paul was the chief speaker. The case proves that such seasons of extraordinary devotion may, in special circumstances, be proper. Occasions may arise where it will be proper for Christians to spend a much longer time than usual in public worship. It is evident, however, that such seasons do not often occur. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
first day
It was the breaking of bread for which the disciples were assembled. The passage indicates the use by the apostolic churches of the first day, not the seventh.
Compare (Co1 16:2). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
First (τῇ μιᾷ)
Lit., "the one day." The cardinal numeral here used for the ordinal.
Week (σαββάτων)
The plural used for the singular, in imitation of the Hebrew form. The noun Sabbath is often used after numerals in the signification of a week. See Mat 28:1; Mar 16:2; Joh 20:19.
To break bread
The celebration of the eucharist, coupled with the Agape, or love-feast.
Preached (διελέγετο)
Better, as Rev., discoursed with them. It was a mingling of preaching and conference. Our word dialogue is derived from the verb. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| To break bread - That is, to celebrate the Lord's Supper; continued his discourse - Through uncommon fervour of spirit. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Upon the first day of the week - What was called κυριακη, the Lord's day, the Christian Sabbath, in which they commemorated the resurrection of our Lord; and which, among all Christians, afterwards took the place of the Jewish Sabbath.
To break bread - To break eucaristia, the eucharist, as the Syriac has it; intimating, by this, that they were accustomed to receive the holy sacrament on each Lord's day. It is likely that, besides this, they received a common meal together. Some think the αγαπη, or love feast, is intended.
Continued his speech until midnight - At what time he began to preach we cannot tell, but we hear when he concluded. He preached during the whole night, for he did not leave off till the break of the next day, Act 20:11, though about midnight his discourse was interrupted by the fall of Eutychus. As this was about the time of pentecost, and we may suppose about the beginning of May, as Troas was in about 40 degrees of north latitude, the sun set there at seven p.m. and rose at five a.m., so that the night was about eight hours long; and taking all the interruptions together, and they could not have amounted to more than two hours, and taking no account of the preceding day's work, Paul must have preached a sermon not less than six hours long. But it is likely that a good part of this time was employed in hearing and answering questions; for διελεγετο, and διαλεγομενου, may be thus understood. |
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.