Bible Questions and Answers

Luke 23:53-56  Then he took it [i.e. the body of Jesus] down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. 54  That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. 55  And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. 56  Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

As Jews they observed the Sabbath. The Old Covenant was still in force when Christ died. In his death Jesus fulfilled the Law given through Moses and took it out of the way, but neither the disciples nor the women were aware of this until after Jesus was risen from the dead.

Paul explains:

Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25  But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

After Jesus was risen from the dead, the Old Covenant was replaced by the New Covenant in Christ. The Law given through Moses was replaced with the commandments of Christ. This opened the door for the gentiles. In Christ they were not required to observe the Law of Moses.

It took a while for the Jewish believers to get used to this idea. Some wanted the gentiles to be circumcised and keep the Law. This was finally settled by a meeting with the apostles at Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 15. This was several years after the resurrection.

Acts 15:1-29 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2  Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. 3  So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4  And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5  But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." 6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7  And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8  "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9  "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10  "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11  "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." 12  Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13  And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me: 14  "Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15  "And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16  ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; 17  So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.’ 18  "Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19  "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20  "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21  "For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." 22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. 23  They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24  Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" —to whom we gave no such commandment— 25  it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26  men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27  We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28  For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29  that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Glenn