TEACHING AND HEALING IN THE TEMPLE COMPLEX

ACTS 3:1–4:22

Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the new Jewish believers in Jesus dispersed to their homes, ready to tell others what they had learned. Meanwhile the apostles remained in Jerusalem using the Temple complex as the primary location for their teaching. Despite the risk that found them frequently arrested by corrupt members of the Sanhedrin, the apostles returned again and again to the Temple for a reason.

One day Peter and John went to teach in the Temple complex according to their custom. As they approached the Gate Beautiful, they met a beggar who had been crippled from birth. Peter had something better than money to offer this man—restoration of his legs through the authority of Jesus. As the healed man jumped about praising God, a crowd began to gather. They moved to Solomon’s Colonnade, where Peter spoke about Jesus and called for those listening to believe that Jesus was the Messiah spoken of by the prophets. The priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and the Sadducees quickly arrested Peter and John, holding them overnight for trial the next day (Acts 3:1–4:22). At this trial Peter laid out the key issue of legitimate authority: “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God” (Acts 4:19).

Relief depicting money changers. Money changing was a major industry for the Sadducees, who controlled the Temple.
© Dr. James C. Martin. The Eretz Israel Museum.

According to the Mishnah (Jewish oral law), “Gate Beautiful” is to be identified in this model of the Temple with the door at the bottom center of the photo.

Why did the apostles continue to preach and heal in the Temple complex despite the risk and opposition? The Temple complex provided the apostles with an audience attuned to their message. For centuries Jews had come to the Temple to worship, anticipating the coming of the Messiah. Therefore the apostles made it a practice to teach in Solomon’s Colonnade, located across from the Gate Beautiful, both of which were within the Temple complex.6 In doing so, the message of Jesus made increasing inroads among their Jewish brothers and sisters. Thousands came to believe, including more of the priests (Acts 4:4; 6:7).

By teaching in Solomon’s Colonnade, and through the healing of the man at the Gate Beautiful, the apostles asserted that Jesus, not the Sadducees, was the true authority of the Temple. In doing so, they went to places in the Temple complex where the message of Jesus was destined to get the attention of the Temple leadership. The disabled man whom the Lord healed was begging near the Gate Beautiful in the vicinity of the Temple treasury, where people came to deposit their contributions. For the Sadducees, who had turned the Temple into a commercial business, this treasury was an important symbol of their authority. By proclaiming the legitimate authority of Jesus at the Gate Beautiful, Peter revoked the Sadducees’ claim to Temple authority.

The apostles also taught at Solomon’s Colonnade, which was located on the east side of the Temple complex. Since one court of the Sanhedrin met in the Royal Porch that crossed the southern side of the Temple complex,7 the members of that court of the Sanhedrin could easily see the young church growing just a short distance away.

Teaching and healing in the Temple complex happened where it did for a reason. By proclaiming the authority of Jesus as Messiah at Solomon’s Colonnade and through the healing of a man at the Gate Beautiful, the apostles confronted and exposed the illegitimate Temple leadership.

The early church met in Solomon’s Colonnade (top left), while the Temple aristocracy did business at the Royal Porch, or Stoa (far back colonnade).

Jerusalem Temple - First century AD