BIBLE STUDY LESSON 04

SERIES U --- THE EARLY CHURCH

SOMETHING IMPORTANT

HEALING AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE

From Acts 3

One afternoon, Peter and John were on their way to the three o’clock prayer service at the temple. As they came near the Beautiful Gate of the temple, they saw some people carrying a man on a cot. The man’s friends brought him there every day, so that he could sit by the gate to beg from people as they went into the temple. The man had just settled down to beg as Peter and John approached the gate and he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked intently at the man for a moment. Then Peter spoke to him. [Look at us!] said Peter. The lame beggar did look at them, assuming that they would give him some money. [We have no money to give you,] said Peter. [But we have something more important. In the Name of Yeshua of Nazareth, get up and walk!] Peter held the lame man’s hand and lifted him to his feet. As the man arose, his feet and ankles grew strong instantly so that he leaped up and began walking. As Peter and John went on into the temple, the man went too, walking, leaping, and praising YHVH as he went. When the people saw him doing this and recognized that he was the lame beggar who sat by the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded. Crowds gathered there on Solomon’s Porch where the man was clinging to Peter and John. Now that Peter had a crowd, he saw the opportunity for a sermon. [Men of Israel!] said Peter. [Why are you so surprised? Why are you staring at us as though we had the power to make this man well by ourselves? The same YHVH whom Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshiped has brought glory to His Son, Yeshua. This is the same Yeshua whom you betrayed and rejected before Pilate, even though Pilate was determined to set Him free. Instead of setting Him free, you pardoned a murderer, then killed the Prince of Life. But YHVH raised Yeshua from the dead, and we have seen Him alive with our own eyes. The Name of Yeshua has healed this man, that is, our faith in Yeshua’ Name. You can see that he is the lame beggar and that he has been completely healed. I’m sure that you and your leaders didn’t realize what you were doing when you killed Yeshua. But YHVH let these things happen so that the prophecies about the sufferings of the Moshiach, His Son, could be fulfilled. Now turn away from the sin that you have done. Turn to YHVH and He will wipe your sins from your record. He will send you a new life in Adonai’s presence, and will send Yeshua the Moshiach back to you again. He will return from heaven to restore all things from their fallen state, which YHVH has predicted through His prophets since the beginning. Centuries ago Moses predicted, ‘Adonai will raise up a prophet from among you, as He appointed me. Listen to Him. Pay attention to everything He tells you. Those who do not listen will be destroyed.’ All the other prophets since the time of Samuel have told of these times. Now you are the heirs of the prophets and the Covenant YHVH made with our forefathers, to bless the nations of the world through our people, the Jews. After Yeshua arose from the dead, YHVH sent Him first to you Jews, to bless you by causing you to turn from your sinful ways.]

COMMENTARY

HEROD’S TEMPLE

Herod the Great died when Yeshua was a young child. But even though his throne was empty, Herod’s presence was strongly felt in Jerusalem during the days of Yeshua and the apostles. The temple, Herod’s greatest building project, was the centre of Jewish life. It was thought to be modelled after Solomon’s temple. The rabbis called it {the light of the earth,} and Jews from all over the Roman world travelled long distances to worship in the temple. For the people of Jerusalem, the temple was the heart of their city. There was always a crowd in the large outer courtyard that covered most of the thirty-two-acre temple platform. It was called the Court of the Gentiles because it was open to everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike. This outer courtyard was a very busy place. Merchants and moneychangers bargained with their customers while children played on the paved floor. Serious-faced scholars discussed matters of Jewish Law while delivery boys took shortcuts through the courtyard on their way to the different parts of the city. Nine gates opened on the Court of the Gentiles from all sides of Jerusalem. The Eastern Gate through which Peter and John entered the temple was the {front door.} Beggars often gathered there because so many people went through the gate on their way to worship. The courtyard was enclosed on all four sides by a covered porch. A double row of columns supported the flat roof. Only the Royal Portico or covered porch that ran along the southern side had a vaulted ceiling. Its peak was more than one hundred feet high. The porch that ran along the eastern side of the courtyard was called {Solomon’s Portico,} or {Solomon’s Porch.} The crowds gathered here to get a look at Peter and John.