Definition of "Sabbath's Day Walk" (Acts 1:12)?

Question

This verse seems to imply that this is an objective unit of distance, which all the readers of the text (as dont forget the original christians were jews) would be familiar with (for if not, this term would be meaningless to the readership). But nowhere in the scripture is there specified a maximum permissible distance which one may walk on the sabbath. All scripture states (Ex. 16:29) is that everyone should stay where they are and not go out of their place, on the sabbath. This is certainly not specific at all, and can even be construed as expressly forbidding any travel/walking on the sabbath at all. Perhaps once can construe Is. 58:13 as having some bearing on the matter, but that verse certainly does not add any further clarity regarding any objective definition of a sabbath's day walk.
What objective and universal standard for that which is considered to be a sabbath day's walk can there be, seeing that it is not specified anywhere in scripture?
Thanks.

Gilbert- Acts is clearly referring to a unit of distance measurement, and not to sabbath-appropriate activities.
Primoa and Machaira-If Ex. 16:29 specifies that one is to remain in his place on the sabbath, then it follows that the law must specify what constitutes ones place. For how could G0d have required the Israelites to keep the sabbath if he did not clearly define for them what constitutes keeping of the sabbath? How would a person be able to even make effort to keep this law or to confess over its violation if the particulars of the law are nowhere specified. How could the courts ever mete out punishment for violating these laws (as the scriptures show us was to be done) if there is no objective standard regarding what constitutes a violation. Therefore, if the details of this law are not specified anywhere in scripture, then this tradition that the Jews had and to which the apostles referred must by necessity be valid and divine in origin (and not thw traditions of men

which was created by the rabbis.) That is the only way in which sense can be made out of this matter. Also, the fact that the NT and the apostles refer to themselves, in their daily lives (as the scripture does not even say that it was the sabbath on which they were travelling, in Acts 1:12), in terms of these traditions, shows that these were traditions that they felt connected to and embraced- and not traditions from which they were trying to divorce themselves. The apostles themselves obviously respected these traditions.
The reason all of this is relevant is, why does the church and the christian not maintain and revere and study and apply these extra-scriptural traditions to their own lives. Just as the scriptures were adopted from the Jews, these teachings too, which go hand in hand with scripture (and without which scripture cannot be completely understood- as we see in this instance), should have been adopted by the christians, just as they were embraced by the apostles,

who were jewish. But yet today we see the Jews regarding these traditions and holy and studying them and passing them down and being devoted to them, and the Christians have rejected them. How can this be?

Answer 1

The distance you may walk on shabbat is known as the techum and is 2000 amos- roughly 2 km (for those who aren't metric- 1.6km= 1 mile).

As an aside:
Teaching on shabbat is not just good, it is mandated.
Treating the sick on Shabbat is not just good it is REQUIRED to be done.
Eating on shabbat is not just good- it is REQUIRED. Hoever, PLUCKING from the ground is termed kotzer (reaping) and is forbidden unless in a case of life or death. If Jesus behaved in such a manner- it explains why he was rejected by the Jews as any Rabbi, and the Messiah in particular is expected to observe the law meticulously, to the best of their ability.

Answer 2

I was in high school from 2007-2011 the popular kids were cliche and not at the same time. 1. They wear AE, Aeropostal, etc; they have coach bags and wore plenty of makeup 2. They were the children of doctors, lawyers, the rich people 3. Football payers were as stupid as bricks and sometimes not the most popular. Being athletic (no matter the sport) made you more likely to become popular, something I never rightly understood. Another oddity was that many people in marching band were popular. i.e. they hardly feel under the nerdy, awkward stereotype. 4. You also described the popular students very well as that it was similar here too. ( fashionable, funny, slutty sometimes, they drink, do sexual stuff to get attention, skip class but get good grades). I always thought it was weird how many popular kids were athletic and on the A-honor roll. The cheese growing on trees thing is funny, but I believe that could happen. There are people who are so stupid, so, so stupid and it's worse in teens.

Answer 3

Jesus healed on the Sabbath.

He ate on the Sabbath(Pluck corn from a cornfield) to sustain himself physically.

He taught the scriptures on the Sabbath.

He performed all kinds of good deeds on the Sabbath for the benefit of others. (Matthew 12:12).

A sabbath days walk therefore could mean in actuality all the religious activities that occur in ones path from Sundown friday until sundown saturday.

Answer 4

Traditionally, it's been 1500 meters from your home.

That's the distance observed since the days of the First (or Solomon's) Temple, so it would have been standard for Jesus and the Apostles during the time of the Second (or Herod's) Temple.

Answer 5

In Jewish culture, there was a certain distance that a person could walk on the sabbath.....it was legalism.

God did not specify this in the Law....the pharisees added things like this over time......yet another reason the Lord Jesus Christ went off on them

Answer 6

Just because it's not stated in scripture doesn't mean that it wasn't known about at the time. Why does it matter?

Answer 7

You can wallk on the sabbath. Jesus and his disciples did many times. Of course the saddusees didn't like it but Jesus told them. Sabbath was made for man not man for sabbath.

Answer 8

I understand it to be less than a mile, just don't know how much less.