Evidence in the Evangelists

What does the sacred record say concerning the Sabbath and first day during this time? All of the four Evangelists speak of the Sabbath and first day in close connection with Christ’s resurrection. If any change of the Sabbath was ever made by divine authority, it must have been done at that time. All believers in the sacredness of Sunday admit this. They claim that previous to Christ’s resurrection the seventh day was the Sabbath by divine appointment; but subsequent to that event, the first day of the week was to be observed by Christians. They teach that this change was by the authority and example of Christ himself.ChSa 42.2

The only historical record existing in our world of the events occurring in connection with our Lord’s life, is that given by the four evangelists-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are emphatically Christian historians. We depend on them for our knowledge of the facts concerning the life and incarnation of the Son of God. They wrote for the Christian world in all ages. They were devoted Christians themselves. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit; for Christ promised that it should bring all things to their remembrance, whatsoever he had said unto them. John 14:26. These things they wrote for our instruction; and we must suppose they call things by their right names, and use language correctly, else their writings would not be reliable.ChSa 43.1

It is supposed by the best authorities that Matthew wrote his Gospel about six years after Christ’s ascension; Mark about ten years; Luke, about twenty-eight years; and John, about sixty-three years. These historians, then, being Christians, writing for the Christians of all ages, and writing, too, many years after the Christian dispensation had begun, must have given all the facts essential to a perfect understanding of the doctrines of the gospel. Do they give us to understand that any change of the Sabbath had occurred and that the first day of the week had now become the weekly Sabbath by Christ’s appointment, while the seventh day had ceased to be such? Had such a change occurred, they must have been aware of it; and if they do not mention it, we may be sure no such change had been made. We will now notice every instance in which they speak of these two days in connection with Christ’s resurrection.ChSa 43.2