Beautiful Gate | Bob's boy's Christianity blog

Peter and John were headed to the temple at the hour of prayer – the ninth hour, making it about 3:00 in the afternoon if one reckons time by Jewish standards. As they approached, a lame man was being carried to the entrance of the “Beautiful Gate.” We do not know which gate this was, although many suppose it was the one known as the Nicanor gate in the east.

English: folio 11 recto of the codex with the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The lame man was laid at this gate every day, so that he could ask for “alms” or gifts for the poor from those entering the temple. As he caught the eye of Peter and John, Peter told him that they had no money, but that he did have something to give him. He then healed him “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,” and the man rose up and walked and began leaping and praising God.

This drew the attention of many who frequented the temple because they saw him every day, and he was known to have been lame from birth. This particular act of wonder is singled out for us above all others that we are told that the apostles performed for a couple of reasons. First, it was done to allow for the maximum number of credible witnesses to be present, so they could “testify” to it to others. Secondly, it was designed to attract attention, as there was inevitably to be a “showdown” between the apostles as the Jewish leaders. This would serve to hasten that process.

Schedule for this week
Read or listen to audio of today’s selection from Acts here
Read or listen to audio of today’s selection from 2 Chronicles here

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility. When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.

As chapter 3 begins, we know that the Apostles had already been working miracles (Acts 2:43). Now as Peter and John were going to the Temple, a man who had been lame from birth was carried to the gate of the Temple that was called the “Beautiful Gate,” where he was placed with enough regularity (daily) that he was familiar to the other people who came to the Temple (verse 10). Looking to Peter and John, the man was asking for alms (gifts of charity), but instead Peter lifts him up and heals him in Jesus’ name. The sight of the man “clinging” to Peter and John, leaping and praising God, quickly drew another multitude of people from all over. And verse 10 says “they were filled with wonder and amazement,” as they recognized the man who had always been lame.

This model shows how Solomon’s Porch, the eastern part of the Temple wall, may have looked in the time of Jesus.

Solomon’s Portico, according to the historian Josephus (Antiquities 20:9, section 7), was a portion of the Temple that still remained from Solomon’s time when Herod built the current Temple. It was in this colonnade where Jesus had nearly been arrested during the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-23), as He told the Jews that He was indeed the Son of God. Here, Peter addresses this host of people, asking first why they are staring as if he and John had made the man walk by their own power. He then repeats that they had “killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead” (verse 15), and that God had foretold it by all of His prophets.

The message is again to repent (verse 19). In verse 13, Peter ties Jesus to the promises made to Abraham; and in verses 22 and following, he refers to the prophecies of Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15), Samuel, and all the prophets who came after them. In verse 26, Peter saying “God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first…,” as he alludes to the Great Commission.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy

___________________

some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog. All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility. When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com. For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.