“and when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of...

“And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” Acts 12:4 KJV

Found 29 other times in the New TestamentAlways translated “Passover”

All other translations translate it as “Passover”

Pascha

Recognize death, burial, resurrection of Jesus

What is the origin of Easter ?

Did the church in the first century observe it ?

Should we observe Easter in some way ?

Festivities Related to EasterCarnival Season

Feast of Epiphany – Jan. 6“Fat Tuesday” - “Mardi Gras”

Lenten Season40 days before Easter - fastBegins with Ash WednesdayHoly week - Passion week

Post – Easter Season40 days after – Ascension day50 days after – Whitsuntide61 days after – Corpus-Christie day

What about Easter Sunday ?

Acts 12:4 “Easter” -- should be “Passover”

Herod kept Peter in PrisonHe was a JewHe would not have cared about “Easter” because it is not a Jewish holy day.Would not have kept Peter in prison to honor a Christian holy day.But he would have done this to honor a Jewish holy day = the Passover.

What about Easter Sunday ?

Originated in the Catholic Religion - two sources

JudaismConsidered a continuation of PassoverAshes - repent in sackcloth & ashes

Paganism“easter” - Anglo-Saxon goddess of springSpring festival - celebrate new beginning

Council of Nicea - 325 A.D. - celebrate on Sunday

Why we do not observe Easter

Not becausewe do not believe in resurrectionwe are anti-socialwe want to be different.

But because# 1 It is unscriptural - Col. 3:17# 2 It is adding to the word - Rev. 22:18

“God is a spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth” Jn. 4:24

Why we do not observe Easter

God has given us something better - Lord’s Supper

“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

Remember - Death, Burial & Resurrection52 times a yearNot just once a year

Why we do not observe Easter

Worship on the Lord’s Day:Prayers - James 5:12-16 Acts 12:12Preaching - Acts 2:42, 20:7Singing - Eph. 5:19 - Col. 3:16Giving - 1 Cor. 16:2Lord’s Supper - Acts 20:7

Bread - represents body of ChristFruit of the vine - represents the blood of Christ

Matthew 26:26-28

Not something we can observe in a religious wayNothing wrong with some of the social activities

Resurrection of Christ is remembered each Lord’s day when we partake of the communion.

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

arthurpigman@bellsouth.netarthurpigman@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Morning March 31, 2013