Chapter 30

1You, beloved brethren, who have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ, ought to observe the feast of the holy Passover with complete accuracy and understanding. Day and night are equal on the twenty-fifth day of the month Magabit. Make your calculation certain, for our Lord did not suffer twice in one year. Take care, therefore, to commemorate his sufferings only once each year. He died for our sake; therefore, do not consent to celebrate the feast together with the Jews, for there is no love between us and them. They have foolishly erred in their calculation, though they think they are accurate. Therefore they are dishonored throughout the earth and have departed from the truth.

2But take care concerning the calculation of the twenty-fifth day of Magabit, which is the twenty-second day of the month Magabit according to the reckoning of the Hebrews, and observe this reckoning until the twenty-first day. Furthermore, make no mistake in calculating the Passover, lest it be celebrated before the feast of Hosanna and, through an inaccurate calculation, Passover fall twice in one year. Let the holy day of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be celebrated on the holy Christian Sabbath.

3Let the fast of the holy Passover extend from the second day of the week until the first Sabbath, the vigil of Passover. During the week of the Passion, eat nothing except bread, water, and salt. During these days of fasting, abstain from eating flesh and drinking wine, for they are days of mourning and sorrow. Above all, during these six days, if anyone is able to fast, let him patiently endure for two days; but if he is unable, let him fast for one day and keep himself from evildoing. For our Lord says, “The sons of the bridegroom cannot fast as long as the bridegroom is with them, but days will come when the bridegroom is taken from them; then they shall fast.” During these six days the Jews took our Lord from us, crucified him upon the cross, and numbered him with the transgressors. Therefore we command you to fast, just as we ourselves have done since he ascended into heaven.

4On the other days, let them fast on the fourth and sixth days of the week until the ninth hour; and whoever wishes may fast until sunset. Keep vigil at night until the cock crows, gathering together in the church, for [text missing] said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Then complete the fast with joy and gladness and celebrate the feast, for our Lord Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, and his resurrection has given us hope. Let this ordinance be a perpetual law for you until he comes again in glory. The Jews have not believed in the resurrection of our Savior, but we Christians believe in his resurrection, for all who hope in his holy resurrection shall find eternal life.

5Celebrate a feast on the eighth day, for on it the Lord appeared. Thomas said, “He appeared to me also and made me glad, showing me the marks in his hands and feet and the wound in his holy side. Though before this I was faithless and did not believe in his resurrection, he openly showed me the wound in his right side.”

6On the fortieth day celebrate a feast, for on it he completed his whole dispensation and ascended into heaven to the Father who had raised him from the dead. He sat down at the right hand of power and subjected his enemies beneath the footstool of his feet. He shall come again in glory and great power to judge the living and the dead, and he shall repay everyone according to his works. Behold, the Jews who crucified him shall see the beloved Son of God.

7Even to this day the Jews gather on the tenth day of the ninth month and read the Lamentations of Jeremiah the prophet, where it is said, “The spirit of our life, Jesus Christ, they have taken from us and afflicted him.” They also read what Baruch wrote: “This is our God; there is no other like him. He found every way of life and gave it to Jacob his servant and to Israel his beloved. After this he walked upon the earth.” As they read this, they weep and mourn. They do this while making it appear that they mourn for the desolation wrought by Nebuchadnezzar, pretending that this is the truth.

8Ten days after he ascended came the fulfillment of Pentecost. On that day, at the third hour, Jesus Christ sent the Paraclete to us and filled us with his power. We spoke with new tongues, declaring that Jesus Christ is the Messiah of God, who has authority to judge the living and the dead. Moses bore witness concerning him and said, “The Lord our God took fire and caused it to come down like rain.” Likewise, Jacob saw him in the likeness of a man and said, “I have seen the Lord our God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Abraham also received him as a stranger and believed that he was God.

9He is the chief of the hosts of the armies of God whom Joshua son of Nun saw. Moreover, as a mighty man in armor, he helped Joshua at Jericho, and Joshua then did reverence to him as a servant does to his lord. Again, he is the one whom Samuel the prophet knew to be Christ, the Anointed of God. Priests and kings also called him the Anointed. He is the one whom David knew and concerning whose glory, as the Beloved, he spoke with fear: “My heart has uttered a good word, and I have made my work known to the king. My tongue is like the pen of a scribe who writes swiftly. His beauty is fairer than that of the sons of men; grace has been poured from his lips. Therefore God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one, in your beauty and comeliness. Advance, prosper, and reign because of righteousness, uprightness, and meekness, and the glory of your right hand shall lead you. Your arrows are sharp, O mighty one—the peoples shall fall beneath you—in the heart of the king’s enemies. Your throne, O Lord, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore the Lord your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.”

10Concerning him Solomon says, “The Lord created me at the beginning of his way for his works. Before the world, he founded me—in the beginning, before he made the earth, before he made the abysses, before the springs of water issued forth, and before he set the mountains in order. Before all the hills he begot me.” Moreover, Isaiah the prophet says, “A rod shall come forth from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise from its stock and shall be established as ruler of the nations.” Again Solomon says, “Wisdom has built herself a house.” Moreover, Zechariah says, “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion, and proclaim it, daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your King comes; he is righteous and brings salvation, and he is meek and rides upon an ass, upon the foal of an ass.” Moreover, Daniel says, “The Son of Man came to the Ancient of Days. He, then, is the stone that came down from the mountain, cut out without hands.”

11We also declare and proclaim to you that he is the Word of God who existed before the world and is equal with him in everything. Believe in him, that you may find eternal life; but if you do not believe in him, you shall find condemnation. He who does not believe in the Son shall not see eternal life, and the wrath of God remains upon him.

12After the feast of Pentecost, celebrate a feast for seven days and then fast, for we ought to rejoice and be glad because he has granted us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Moses and Elijah fasted for forty days. Daniel also fasted for three weeks and ate no pleasant food, nor did flesh or wine enter his mouth. When the blessed Hannah entreated God to grant her a son, Samuel, she said, “I have not drunk wine to become drunk, but my heart was strong in the Lord.” The people of Nineveh fasted for three days and three nights. Esther, Mordecai, and Judith were saved by fasting from the wicked Holofernes and from Haman. David also says, “My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh is dried up for lack of oil.” You also must fast and ask him for forgiveness of sin.

13In addition, fast on the fourth and sixth days of the week, giving alms to the poor. Honor the Sabbath by gathering together in the church with joy and gladness. Do not fast on the other Sabbaths, but only on the one day that is the vigil of Passover. If anyone fasts on the Christian Sabbath, which is the day of his holy resurrection, or during Pentecost—that is, until the feast of Pentecost—those who do this and mourn during the Lord’s feasts have no remission of sin. But you must celebrate a spiritual feast on those days and never appear sorrowful.