Terry wrote: > The temple grounds were divided into four courts. Actually, there were six courts. A friend of mine did his Ph.D. dissertation on Herod's Temple, and we invited him many years ago to share at our home church on his work. Your four court analysis apparently combines courts 2 & 3 and courts 4 & 5 together.
1. Court of the Gentiles, which included Solomon's porch, a portico / colonnade along the Eastern Side of the Temple. 2. Sacred Enclosure (3 feet higher) 3. Court of Women (3 feet higher), accessible by both men and women, also called the Treasury, where the story of the widow's mite took place. 4. Court of Israel (10 feet higher) 5. Court of Priests (3 feet higher) 6. House of God (8 feet higher), divided into two compartments, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (or Most Holy Place). Terry wrote: > If there were any Gentile Christians in the > Jerusalem Church gathering, they would have > had to meet in the Gentile court, as they > would not qualify to enter the other courts. Of course, and we know that this was part of the Temple where they did gather. Solomon's porch is mentioned as being one area of the Temple frequented by both Jesus and his apostles and later Christians (see John 10:23, Acts 3:11, Acts 5:12). Solomon's porch was the eastern side of the Gentile court. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the Jerusalem church was primarily Jewish. These Jewish believers had no problems entering into the areas not allowed to Gentiles, and we have specific references in Scripture showing both Jesus and his apostles in Acts entering into the area of the Temple forbidden to Gentiles. Most notably, this would be the treasury, also known as the court of women (see John 8:20, Mark 12:41, Acts 5, etc.). If you remember, Paul was falsely accused of bringing Gentiles into the restricted area in Acts 21, and Peter and John healed the lame man in Acts 5 as they were entering into the Treasury. I just trust the Bible when it says that the Christians in Jerusalem met in the Temple. Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord IN THE TEMPLE, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together INTO THE TEMPLE at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. Act 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered INTO THE TEMPLE; Act 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John ABOUT TO GO INTO THE TEMPLE asked an alms. Act 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Act 5:20 Go, stand and SPEAK IN THE TEMPLE TO THE PEOPLE all the words of this life. Act 5:21 And when they heard that, THEY ENTERED INTO THE TEMPLE EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND TAUGHT. ... Act 5:25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Act 5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; ... Act 5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: Act 5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Act 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. Act 5:42 And DAILY IN THE TEMPLE, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Perhaps I should mention that there are two Greek words translated Temple in the New Testament: hieron and naos. Hieron is the whole entire temple, including the court of the Gentiles, but naos appears to refer to the center shrine itself composed of the holy place and the most holy place. When I speak of the early believers meeting in the Temple, I am referring to hieron. Terry wrote: > We have a building with a roof and no walls > on our land, as do many people around here. > It is called a pole barn. ... I meant what > I said. A pole barn, ok, I see what you are getting at. But the Temple was not a pole barn! It's interesting how we can look at the same structure and be drawn to different aspects of it in our minds. I am drawn to the fact that there were walls around these courts and a lack of roof over much of the Temple. However, there were colonnades at the edges of the court of the Gentiles, and also along the edge of the Treasury (court of women). These colonnades are evidently what you are drawn to when you look at Herod's Temple. Solomon's porch is one such colonnade mentioned in Scripture which was part of the court of the Gentiles. Terry wrote: > The early Christians were bold because they were > filled with the Spirit, but they were not suicidal. > If they had tried to enter the inner court, they > would have been killed by the temple guards, who > were there to do exactly that to anyone but a priest > who attempted to enter. Who said anything about the "inner court"? I'm sure some of the early believers were priests, but for the most part, they gathered together in Solomon's porch (court of the Gentiles) and the Treasury (court of women). The book of Acts also indicates that they assembled regularly in the synagogues, and, of course, the part you especially like, house to house. :-) We might have some fun focusing upon home church in the New Testament, but home church was not the ONLY kind of church going on, nor was it the only kind of "church" attended by the early Christians. There were religious buildings besides homes where the early Christians assembled. That's my primary point. :-) My observation might not be welcomed by home church enthusiasts, but I think my comments deserve consideration nonetheless. Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
