Afterward he appeared to Cleopas and another disciple as they journied to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-35.)
At night, when they had retired for their evening repast, Jesus appeared in the midst of them, and partook with them of a piece of broiled fish and an honey comb. (Luke 24:42.)
These were all on the first day of the week, and they appeared to me conclusive evidence, that the disciples had not yet received any intimations of a change of Sabbath time, there being no evidence of it in their conduct or discourse.
Eight days after this, Jesus appeared again to his disciples, Thomas being with them. (John 20:26.) After these things, he shewed himself again to seven of his disciples as they were fishing at the sea of Tiberius. (John 21:1-14.)
At another time, probably on the mountain in Galilee, he was seen of five hundred brethren at once. (1 Cor. 15:6.)
After this, he was seen of James. (1 Cor. 15:7.)
Then of the disciples when he was taken up into heaven. (Luke 24:50, 51.)
Last of all, he was seen by Saul of Tarsus on his way to Damascus. (1 Cor. 15:8.)
There are eleven instances mentioned of his meeting his disciples, and not one of them contains a single reference to the Sabbath in any way whatever, which fully convinced me that the pretence of the Sabbath being changed at the resurrection of Christ was wholly groundless. How any one, without very strong prepossessions and blindness, could think these things make a Sabbath, I could not see. Only five of these instances are said to be on the first day, and these were all private interviews! Saul of Tarsus might as well conclude that he ought to build a meeting-house where Jesus met him, as for the disciples to make a Sabbath of the first day because Jesus appeared to them on that day. After examining these things, it looked to me as though the Papists were quite as justifiable for changing the second commandment to make an image of Christ and his cross, as Protestants are for altering the fourth commandment to honor the resurrection. The Papists honor the crucifixion, and the Protestants the resurrection.