In 56 CE, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth (25 years after the Crucifixion), in the simplest and clearest terms that:

Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast

1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Which feast would that have been? Using the Hebrew Calendar, as understood in Jesus’ day, the Passover fell on Nisan 15 followed immediately by the annual seven-day religious festival known as the days of unleavened bread. The period included two high Sabbaths, or Holydays, falling on Nisan 15 and 21 respectively. Leavened bread and products were not to be consumed during this seven day period. Leaven and leavened products, then symbolic of sin, were forbidden during the days of unleavened bread.

The apostles taught Christians to not only commemorate Christ’s sacrifice by observing the Passover at the beginning of Nisan 14; but also to keep the seven-day feast of unleavened bread (Nisan 15-21).

Read I Cor. 6-8 (NASB).

This example is not an allegory; the Apostle Paul’s listeners were Judeo-Christians (both ethnic Jews and gentiles) observing the biblical days of unleavened bread.

These two annual festivals are inseparable, both historically and remain in spiritual meaning for us today.

The first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened bread are annual Sabbaths or Holy Days on which God’s people are to rest and assemble for worship. Ex. 12:16 (Note: God commanded the observance of the Holy Days (High Sabbaths) before the Old Covenant). Following the Old Covenant we have Lev. 23:6-8 (Note: Lev. 1:1 – the tent of meeting was in place).

God’s law of love existed long before Adam and Eve!

Similarly, God’s law did not begin when God made the covenant at Mt. Sinai with ancient Israel. God’s law of love existed long before Adam and Eve! The Ten Commandments constitute a spiritual law that is inexorable and eternal.

Ex16:28 The Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?

Ex 18:16 When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

Further, in Genesis 26:5 we read:

Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.

Thus the Bible shows that the commandments, statutes and judgments—all based on the principles of love toward God and love toward man—were in force prior to the establishment of God’s covenant with the nation Israel!

The covenant made at Mt. Sinai—called the “Old Covenant” today—imposed upon the people of Israel certain terms and conditions to be performed. The people were to keep the Ten Commandments. The reward for obedience would be to make Israel a nation “above all people.” The promises were purely national and material. There was no mention of spiritual blessings.

God revealed to Moses additional laws—various applications of the Ten Commandments in the form of civil statutes and judgments (detailed in Exodus 20:22 through chapter 23). God instructed Moses to write these statutes and judgments in a book called the “Book of the Covenant” (Ex. 24:4, 7). These additional laws this became a part of the covenant God made with Israel.

Why did God have to reveal His law to the children of Israel when establishing His covenant with them? Simply because the people had strayed so far from the truth by the time of Moses that God had to reveal His laws and statutes anew to the Israelites. By then, Ancient Israel had lost much, if not most, of the knowledge of God’s ways due to the perils of Egyptian bondage.

Since the Ten Commandments were already in force, the only thing new about them at Mt. Sinai was their written, codified form. God presented them to the people after stating them with His own voice. In general the Ten Commandments apply to individual conduct, the statutes to national or church affairs, and the judgments to legal; decisions rendered according to the principles of the Ten Commandments and the statutes.

When did the true Church begin?

In Acts 7:38 we learn that the congregation of Israel was called the church in the wilderness, in the days of Moses. The English word “congregation” used throughout the Old Testament is only another rendering, having the same identical meaning, as the word “church” in the New Testament. The word translated “congregation” in the Old Testament is ekklesia in the Septuagint the same identical Greek word that is always translated CHURCH in the New Testament.

Israel was both church and state. As a kingdom, it was for years ruled by a system of judges, over 50s, 100s, thousands, etc., later having a king. But as a congregation, or church, Israel was organized with a leader Moses, Joshua, etc. and the priests of the tribe of Levi. The Law of Moses contained those ritualistic or ceremonial laws which were ADDED, because of transgressions, to the Old Covenant added until Christ to teach and instill into them the habit of obedience. These consisted of meat and drink offerings, various washings, physical ordinances. Also they had the sacrifices, as a substitute for the sacrifice of Christ.

Now, what about the Passover and the days of Unleavened Bread?

Notice that there was only one sacrifice mentioned in the Book of the Covenant.

Ex 23:18 You shall not offer the blood of My Sacrifice with leavened bread; nor shall the fat of My sacrifice remain until morning.

God called it “MY sacrifice.” The Passover was instituted in Egypt (Ex. 12:1-14), weeks before Sinai. It was repeated in the covenant made at Sinai, but it was not instituted by that covenant!

God did not originally command sacrifices toi be offered. This explains why the temporary sacrifices—instituted after the first covenant was made and ratified at Sinai—were NOT perpetuated by different symbols in the New Testament Church. Only the Passover is continued—with the different New testament SYMBOLS of unleavened bread and wine. Why is the Passover continued today? Because it began before the covenant was made at Sinai!

The very fact that Jesus substituted unleavened bread and wine for Passover lamb only, and not for the Levitical offerings, is a PROOF that the ceremonial offerings were temporary and not binding today. Because it began before the convent was made at Sinai!

The Holy days were created when the literal Congregation of Israel came into being and continue in the New Israel of God (the Church) today. Moreover, keeping God’s spiritual law as defined in the Ten Commandments is one of the conditions of the New Covenant. In the Gospels we read where Jesus expounded the spiritual principles underlying the civil laws given to ancient Israel.

Now let’s go a little deeper into this topic.

Most churches teach that Christ finished the Plan of Redemption when He was crucified. But the very first event in God’s great plan for man’s regeneration was the death of Christ. We find the operation of this great Sacrifice beginning in Eden, when God killed a lamb or goat, in order to cover the nakedness (type of sin) of Adam and Eve with skins. We find it operating when Abel sacrificed a substitute lamb. And so the Passover is the first of these events picturing to God’s children year by year His great plan.

Let us understand it.

Egypt is a type of sin. As God’s people are today in “Babylon,” and soon are to be delivered after God pours out His plagues upon Babylon, so they once were in Egypt, and were delivered after the pouring out of the plagues.

Just as professing Christians have been deceived and have no knowledge of true time and God’s days, as well as the true worship of God, so it was with the children of Israel in Egypt.

For over two centuries they had been in severe bondage in Egypt forced to work with taskmasters over them. There was no Bible no written Word of God. They were not permitted to worship God as He had ordained. They were forced to work seven days a week. They had lost sight even of the true Sabbath that is why God revealed to them the Sabbath in the wilderness of Sin (Exodus 16).

But Passover was only the start.

At that time in Egypt they had also changed the proper time for commencing the year.

And so, on delivering His people from Egypt (sin), God straightened them out as to time. And, as the beginning of our salvation was wrought by Christ’s death on the cross, so God said, “This month [in the spring] shall be unto you the beginning of months . . .” (Exodus 12:2).

Some few keep the beginning of God’s feasts of salvation by observing Passover, but never go on to know the “depth of the riches” of God’s grace pictured by the following feasts! Christ is not only the author, or beginner, but the finisher of our salvation!

On the tenth day of this first month the Israelites were instructed to take a lamb without blemish. They kept it until not after the 14th day of the same first month. At even, at dusk as the Jewish translation has it between the two evenings, or between sunset and dark the Passover lamb was killed.

This was in, not after, the 14th day. They shed the blood of the lamb, picturing Christ’s sacrifice to come. They ate the flesh in that night. At midnight the death angel came, but passed over every house where the blood had been sprinkled.

There are some very important details it is vital that we notice at this point; perhaps we have not seen them before. It proves that the Passover should be observed the 14th, not the 15th.

Passover 14th, Not 15th

Notice Exodus 12. Verse 6, they shall kill the lamb at dusk (Jewish official translation). Verse 8, they shall eat the flesh in that night still the 14th. Verses 9-11 continue to describe how it shall be roasted and eaten the time is still the same night the 14th. Verse 12: “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn . . .” still same night the 14th.

Now notice carefully the paragraph beginning verse 21. Here are more detailed directions for striking the blood on the door posts the time this was done, as proved above, was the night part of the 14th. Notice carefully verse 22: “. . . Strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin: and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.” Notice that carefully! None were permitted to leave their houses that night. They remained in their houses until morning! They remained there all night!

Now read on in verse 29. At midnight (of the 14th) the Lord smote the firstborn of Egypt. Verse 30, Pharaoh rose up in the night. This was of course after the death angel passed at midnight, and therefore after midnight.

He called for Moses and Aaron. This must have taken some time, but still the same night. Verse 33, the Egyptian people were urgent to get rid of the Israelites. Verse 35, the Israelites borrowed (demanded) of the Egyptians silver and gold and clothing, and spoiled the Egyptians. When? Surely this borrowing and spoiling of the Egyptians took several hours. The Israelites lived in the land of Goshen, apart from the Egyptians. The Israelites were forbidden to leave their houses until morning so this spoiling and borrowing took place through the day time of the 14th day.

Exodus 24 Hours After Passover

But notice this highly important point the Israelites did not go out from the land of Egypt until that night the 15th of Abib! Notice the section composed of verses 40-42: “. . . even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed. . . .” Which is the night to be observed? The night they came out of Egypt. They went out of Egypt, not during the daytime the 14th, but after that day had ended after the sun had set the following night on the 15th of Abib! And that night, the 15th, is to be observed!

The following verses, beginning verse 43, form a new paragraph, and refer again to Passover the 14th day.

Now, notice Deuteronomy 16:1. “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the Lord thy God: for in the month of Abib the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.” Notice it, they did not go out of Egypt, until night. And this night was the 15th, not the 14th. Further proof?

Notice now Numbers 33:3.

 They journeyed from Rameses in the first  month, on the fifteenth  day of the first month ; on the next day after the Passover the sons  of Israel started  out boldly  in the sight of all the Egyptians (Numbers 33:3 NASB).

There it is in plain language.

Now some believe that they killed the lamb between noon and sunset the 14th about 3 p.m., near the end of the day; ate it that night the 15th (claiming that is when the Passover was eaten, and when we should take it today) and then went on out of Egypt that same night. But this theory will not hold water, in view of all these scriptures, and those following through Exodus 12.

• The Israelites were not permitted to leave their houses that night after eating the lamb.
• They remained in their own houses in the land of Goshen until daylight. Then they went to their Egyptian neighbors, and borrowed from them and spoiled them.
• There were thousands of them. It took time to notify them. It could not have been done after midnight, when Pharaoh rose up, and still have gotten out of Egypt the same night.
• The Israelites were in their own houses in Goshen all that night. Exodus 12:10 further proves this. Whatever remained of their roasted lamb uneaten until morning they were to burn with fire. That shows they stayed in their homes until morning.

They did not leave Egypt until after that day ended after nightfall again, during the night part of the fifteenth.

In the 14th, Not After

Now to connect one other vital point, turn to Numbers 28:16-17.

Then on the fourteenth day  of the first month shall be the LORD’S Passover.  17  ‘On the fifteenth  day of this month shall be a feast, unleavened  bread shall be eaten for seven days.  18  ‘On the first  day shall be a holy convocation  ; you shall do no  laborious work.

25  ‘On the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation ; you shall do  no  laborious work.

Leviticus 23:5-6 says the same thing.

‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD’S Passover.  6  ‘Then on the fifteenth  day  of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread  to the LORD ; for seven days  you shall eat unleavened bread.

Twilight is the time of day immediately following sunset.

Notice the Passover is not the 15th, but the 14th. “on the” is not after it is past. And notice, too, the feast mentioned here is not the 14th (though the Passover is elsewhere called a feast), but the feast day is the 15th. The seven-day period begins the 15th. The 15th is the first of the seven days of unleavened bread.

However, since leaven was put out of the houses during the 14th day, it came to be called one of the days of unleavened bread by New Testament times, but when this is done, eight days are included in the term “days of unleavened bread.” The entire eight-day period is, in New Testament usage, sometimes called by the name “Passover.”

But the seven-day period begins the 15th, after the 14th, or Passover, has ended.

The 14th day is the Passover. It is the first of God’s festivals. It is not the feast day mentioned here. In the fifteenth day is the feast. Let us get that distinction clearly in mind. It is the FIFTEENTH that is the FEAST the 14th is the Passover. This feast day begins after Passover has ended.

Now with these facts well in mind, let us turn back to Exodus 12. Notice beginning verse 14. “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread . . . and in the first day there shall be an holy convocation . . .” (verses 14-16).

What day is established as a memorial not a shadow, a memorial a feast to be kept forever? Notice, it is the day that is the feast “Ye shall keep it a feast.” It is the day that is the feast day the 15th Abib, not the 14th not the Passover!

This day is the feast day a memorial, to be kept a Sabbath, or holy convocation, forever! Seven days are included, and we have shown that the seven-day period begins the 15th, after Passover has passed. “In the fourteenth is the Passover, but in the fifteenth day is the feast seven days.”

Many have always believed the day here spoken of, and ordained forever, was the Passover, or 14th. But it is not it is the 15th day.

Now this day the 15th is established a holy convocation. Look in the dictionary. A “convocation” is an assembly of the people where their presence is commanded, under power and authority. A “holy convocation” is a religious assembly, for purposes of worship. The weekly Sabbath is a holy convocation. So is Abib 15th. Our presence is commanded, under God’s power and authority. But let us continue.

Notice now, beginning verse 16: “And in the first day [of the seven, 15th of Abib], there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day [21st of Abib] there shall be an holy convocation to you…And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day [the fifteenth Abib] have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day [the fifteenth, not the 14th] in your generations by an ordinance for ever” (Exodus 12:16-17).

There it is! Before the ceremonial law of Moses! The day established as a Sabbath, or holy convocation forever, is the feast day, the selfsame day on which they went out of Egypt, and they went out on the 15th, not the 14th (Numbers 33:3).

Let’s Now Look at the NT

In his Gospel the Apostle John, writing at about 80-85 AD, refers to the Passover of the Jews (John 2:13; 6:4; 11:55).

The people of God do not keep the Passover of the Jews, we observe the New Passover of Jesus Christ, or if you prefer the Christian Passover. The Gospels discuss these two distinct Passovers.

There is the Passover observed by Jesus Christ at the beginning of Nisan 14 and the Passover of the Jews observed at the beginning of Nisan 15. The timing of the Christian Passover is exactly the same as the Mosaic Passover. In Jesus’ day the Passover of the Jews fell one day later at the beginning of Nisan 15 just as it does today.

• The Encyclopaedia Judaica, Vol. 13, article “Passover,” page 169 reads: “The feast of Passover consists of two parts: namely, Passover ceremony, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Originally, both parts existed separately; but the beginning of the exile they were combined.”
• The Jewish Encyclopedia on page 553, dealing with Passover and the days of Unleavened Bread, says, “Two festivals, originally distinct, have become merged.”
• Hastings’ A Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 3, says on page 686, article “Passover,” “the Passover is always carefully distinguished from mazzoth [unleavened], which begins on the following day.”
• The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, page 729, article, “Passover,” states: “Originally, both were separate feasts…”

So then, how did these two festivals they become combined?

When God established the Mosaic Passover it was to be observed in Israelite homes by families. It was a private rite of worship. With the creation of the Levitical priesthood all changed. The Law of Moses established that all sacrifice could occur only at the central sanctuary. This was the Tent of Meeting until the Temple. Once the Temple came into being the Passover could only be observed at Jerusalem.

Did a Jew living in Rome keep the Mosaic Passover? No. It could only be kept at Jerusalem. The lambs could only be sacrificed by the priests presiding at the Temple atop Jerusalem’s temple mount. The priests developed various rules for the keeping of the Passover which were administrative in nature. They were not the Law of God nor the Law of Moses. They were priestly rules. The people either complied or they did not take Passover.

When the Exile occurred, Jerusalem had fallen to the Babylonians and the Temple was completely destroyed. Its vessels and treasures were either hidden (such as the Ark of the Covenant) or taken to Babylon as the spoils of war.

Even though there were still Levitical priests in the captivity or exile they could not offer sacrifice as the Temple no longer existed. The whole sacrificial system came to a complete halt. Adding the Seder, with bitter herbs and the like, to the Night to Be Much Remembered at the beginning of Nisan 15 provided a substitute. By combining the festivals in Babylon on Nisan 15 allowed the Jews to recall the lessons of Passover and reflect on the freedom they once had. Once the two festivals were combined they remained so even until the present day.

Irrespective of arguments and perspectives about whether the Old Testament Passover was kept by the descendants of Israel at the beginning of Nisan 14 or Nisan 15, Jesus Christ himself established the set time for his people to observe the New Testament Passover ceremony. It is non-negotiable. Jesus established the time for the Christian celebration of Passover at the beginning of Nisan 14 when the night has fully come a full 24 hours before the traditional Passover of the Jews observed at the beginning of Nisan 15. When we gather together for a “Night to be Much Remembered” we are celebrating our Christian journey out of the spiritual Egypt of this world on the path to the Kingdom of God. We have a joyous celebration in Christ.

The three branches of Judaism—Orthodox, Conservative, and Liberal—as well as the unrecognized group called Messianic Jews all observe the Old Covenant Passover on Nisan 15. Messianic Jews are a combination of Jews and gentiles seeking recognition as a fourth branch of Judaism. Messianic Jews are not Christians. They proclaim that Christianity is for Gentiles not Jews. They teach that the Old Covenant is still in effect. That teaching is a heresy.

Jesus Restored the Passover to the Correct Day

Mark 14:12 — Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”

Matt 26:17 — Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

Luke 22:7-8 — Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.  8  And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

Luke 22:14 — 14  When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve  apostles with Him.  15  Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

John 19:31 — Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

Not Abolished With Old Covenant

Observe that the days of unleavened bread are a period, having two high-day Sabbaths. And this period is established forever while the Israelites were still in Egypt before one word of the ceremonial law of Moses had been given or written before God even proposed the Old Covenant!

What the Law of Moses, or the Old Covenant, did not bring or institute, they cannot take away! And in Fenton’s translation, we find the 17th verse translated thus: “. . . Consequently keep this period as an everlasting institution.” The whole period is included.

This alone ought to prove that the holy days and the seven days of unleavened bread are binding today, and forever!

Now, if these texts apply to the 15th, not the 14th, as they assuredly do, and is here conclusively proved, then is the Passover forever? Indeed it is! But these texts above refer to the feast, and not the Passover. In the paragraph beginning Exodus 12:21 the Passover is again referred to, and verse 24 establishes it forever!

Exodus 12:21, 24:

21  Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. 

24  And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever.

Purpose of Festival

But let us learn the full significance of this. Why did God ordain these feast days? What was His great purpose? Turn now to Exodus 13, verse 3: “And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt. . . .” This was the 15th of Abib. Verses 6, 8-10: “Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and the seventh day shall be a feast unto the Lord . . . This is done because of that which the Eternal did” (a MEMORIAL) “and it shall be for a sign” that is, having also a future meaning “unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes” having to do with both works and will why? “that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth. . . . Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance. . . .”

Can you see the wonderful meaning? Do you grasp the true significance of it all? Do you see God’s purpose? The Passover only pictures the death of Christ for the remission of sins that are past (Romans 3:25). The accepting of His blood does not forgive sins we may later commit; it does not give license to continue in sin. Therefore when we accept it, our sins are forgiven only up to that time past sins.

But shall we stop there with only past sins forgiven? We are still flesh beings. We still shall suffer temptations. Sin has held us in its clutch we have been slaves to sin, in its power. And we are powerless to deliver ourselves from it! We have been in bondage to sin. Let us understand the picture the meaning.

Quitting Sin Utterly

To what extent shall we put away sin? Not partially, but completely! And, as leaven is also a type of sin (I Corinthians 5:8) leaven puffs up, and so does sin and, as seven is God’s number symbolizing completeness, we are to follow the Passover with seven days of unleavened bread!

The picture the meaning the symbolism, is not complete with Passover alone. Passover pictures the acceptance of Christ’s blood for the remission of past sins. It pictures the crucified the dead Christ.

Shall we leave Christ symbolically hanging on the cross? The seven days of unleavened bread following Passover picture to us the complete putting away of sin, the keeping of the Commandments after past sins are forgiven.

They picture the life and work of the risen Christ who ascended to the throne of God where He is now actively at work in our behalf as our High Priest, cleansing us of sin delivering us completely from its power!

To observe the Passover alone, and then fail to observe the seven days of unleavened bread, means, in the symbolism, to accept Christ’s blood, and then to continue in sin to erroneously say the Law is done away, that we are under grace alone, meaning license, to continue in sin!

The seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread picture the keeping of the Commandments, which is another way of saying the putting away of sin.

God’s true Church is to have these feast days, the first of which is a memorial picturing deliverance from sin, in OUR right hand and forehead, as God’s sign, in order that we shall keep His commandments. And since the forehead is the seat of the intellect, and symbolizes acceptance, and the right hand symbolizes work, we have this sign of God there by accepting this truth about the holy days and Days of Unleavened Bread, and by NOT WORKING on these holy days! Not only is the weekly Sabbath God’s sign (Exodus 31:12-17) but annual Sabbaths are signs as well!

The days are binding forever! As the Sabbath is a memorial, so are the holy days!

Commanded in New Testament

And now we wish to show a plain New Testament command, more direct, than any we can find for the weekly Sabbath to keep these annual holy days!

Observe again Numbers 28:16-17: “IN the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the Lord. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.”

This feast was not the 14th, but the 15th. It was the Passover, when the lamb was killed; that was the 14th. The daylight part of the 14th was the preparation for the feast (Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:14). Note, in Jesus’ day the Jews celebrated their Passover one day late according to the tradition of the elders (John 18:28).

Let us get this point thoroughly established in our minds, for if this is true, as it is, then all of these days are still binding upon us, by New Testament, as well as Old Testament authority!

Notice Matthew 26:5. The chief priests and the scribes conspiring to kill Jesus, said:

“Not on the feast day, lest the be an uproar among the people.” They hastened so they could take and kill Him the day before the feast, or on the 14th Abib (Nisan).

Mark 14:2 says the same thing. Now to establish that the feast day was the day after the Passover festival, and that was the high day Sabbath the day after Jesus was crucified notice John 13:29:

“For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag [was treasurer Fenton translation], that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need against the feast.”

Surely this proves the feast was the following day the 15th Abib (Nisan), as all these scriptures positively affirm.

Days of Unleavened Bread Kept by Paul and the New Testament Church

It is faithfully recorded in the New Testament that the Church, during the period its history covers, was keeping those days!

In Acts 20:6: “We sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread.” Paul and companions plainly had observed the days of unleavened bread at Philippi. The Holy Spirit could never have inspired such words otherwise.

Notice also Acts 12:3-4: “Then were the days of unleavened bread.” Why this, if those days had, in God’s sight, ceased to exist?

Notice, it is not anyone ignorant of what was abolished making this statement. It is Almighty God saying it through inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This was years after the crucifixion. The days of unleavened bread still existed, or the Holy Spirit could not have inspired “then were the days unleavened bread.”