Luke wrote of the church in Troas: “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” (Acts 20:7). The events of the day were both normal and unusual, as in regard to “the day of the week.” It was normal for the saints in the first century to worship God every “first day of the week” and more than likely, the phrase, “break bread,” is used as a part of speach called synecdoche.
The words themselves, “break bread,” referring to the Lord’s Supper, but is the one part of worship that is only done on “the first day of the week;” therefore, the perfect part of worship to stand for the whole done on “the first day of the week.” Had Luke wrote, let us say, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to sing,” when we might have to struggled to prove that we have authority to take the Lord’s Supper on “the first day of the week.” Not that it could not be done, for a good student of the New Testament would have noticed that Luke had also written earlier, at the birth of the church, these words: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). So, Luke has given us two verses; first, showing what the first converts to Christ did after obeying the gospel did in worship; and second, what the church continued to do throughout; as she worshiped God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
With these opening remarks before us, let us give some thought to these Old Testament words: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psa. 122:1). Taking some liberty as we put these words into a New Testament context; they might read: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the assembly of worship upon the first day of the week.” Here are a few questions: 1) Am I really glad when Sunday arrives? 2) Do I really take advantage of this great opportunity to worship God? 3) Do I put such an opportunity first in my life? Go ahead and answer these questions for yourself before reading the rest of this article.
Now let us go back to the text of Acts 20:7; and recall the earlier words; “The events of the day were both normal and unusual, as in regard to ‘the day of the week.” First, the normal was the church gathered to “break bread” upon “the first day of the week;” which we have looked at to some degree. Second, notice the unusual: “and continued his speech until midnight.” Just for the fun of it, as you answered the three questions above, did you give any thought to the idea, would you stay in the assembly, if the preacher “continued his speech until midnight?” Through the years of my preaching, I have known some clock watchers!
However, the Greek word Luke used, translated into our English word “preach,” is not what you might first think. It is the Greek “dialegomai” and means: “to converse, discourse with one, argue, discuss.” So, if you have visualized Paul standing and preaching as a preacher generally does on Sunday morning, then, you have the wrong thought. Luke is telling us that Paul was carrying on a discourse, a conversation; more than likely answering their questions while he talked with them about many things. All of this was “done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). But, this was not the end of the events
No, after the events about Eutychus, they went back into the third loft, ate, and Paul “talked a long while, even till break of day” (verse 11). Now, it is true, we do not know at what hour the assembly of worship started, but we can be sure of one thing, these saints first, worshipped God “in spirit and in truth,” then, Paul discoursed with them until midnight, then, after eating, he talked until the “break of day.”
One thing we can be sure of: “What a day of worship! So, I recall the words: ““I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Is this the way you think, when the clock rings on Sunday morning?
— Frank R. Williams