Sabbath Observance in Luke-Acts: Situating the Earliest Followers of Jesus Within Judaism
David Wilber 
Issue: Vol.11 No. 3 March 2025 Issue Article 1 pp.51 – 59
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20251131 | Published online 7th March, 2025.
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This study demonstrates that Luke presents the earliest followers of Jesus as steadfast Sabbath observers, challenging the common assumption that they abandoned or disregarded this practice. By closely examining the references to the Sabbath in Luke’s Gospel and Acts, it is observed that Luke consistently depicts Sabbath worship as a standard practice among Jewish and Gentile believers. This portrayal suggests that the earliest followers of Jesus did not believe the Sabbath had been abrogated but saw it as integral to their faith and community life. These findings invite modern Christians to reconsider the relevance of Sabbath observance in their own spiritual lives. By highlighting the continuity between Judaism and the emerging Christian movement, this study contributes to scholarship on early Christian identity and practice, portraying the earliest followers of Jesus as a movement within Judaism.
Keywords: Luke, Acts, Sabbath, Post-supersessionism, Judaism, Christianity, New Testament
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David Wilber is an author, Bible teacher, and CEO of Pronomian Publishing LLC. He has written several books and numerous theological articles, with his work appearing in outlets such as the Christian Post and the Journal of Biblical Theology. David has spoken at churches and conferences across the nation and has served as a researcher and Bible teacher for a number of Messianic and Christian ministries. David earned his BA in Biblical Studies from Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary, where he had the honor of being chosen as Valedictorian of his graduating class. He is currently working toward his MA in Religion at Southern Evangelical Seminary.
Wilber, David. “Sabbath Observance in Luke-Acts: Situating the Earliest Followers of Jesus Within Judaism,” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies, 11 no.3 (2025): 51 – 59. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20251131
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
