The Setting:
Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.
Acts 3:1-2
The Setting Questions:
- Why does Luke set the scene in such detail when this is just a “one afternoon” story?
- What does Luke mean as “they approached the temple”? “Going up”?
- Where did this action actually take place – in the temple or outside it?
- Where is meant by the Beautiful Gate?
- Does it have some special significance?
- Why does Luke tell us specifically that it was 3.00 pm (Ninth Hour)? Is there a significance to that?
- I have had some additional questions sent in on the other two sections but only one new one for the Setting.
- Why is it just Peter and John who went up to the temple? Why weren’t the others included?
Let’s get to work on the initial settings. It is curious that Luke sets the scene in such a way for an event that took place “sometime”. It was one of those happens-all-the-time events. No, not the miracle – miracles don’t happen all the time. It was “the going up to the temple” that happened all the time. It seems Peter and John at least, among the disciples were in the habit of going to the temple. On one of those occasions this miracle happened. I think the first thing we can all learn from this record in Acts, is that miracles can happen at anytime. The Holy Spirit can break into the midst of our routine at any time. Expect a miracle. In my experience those who expect a miracle more often get them. Is it the expectation of a miracle which creates the atmosphere for a miracle? I don’t think Luke’s setting the scene in detail was important in itself. I think the message is that miracles happen in the midst of our daily routine. “One afternoon” the Holy Spirit came.
Why was it that just Peter and John were present? Either the others were also present, but it was Peter who was bold enough to say what he did, “We don’t have any silver and gold but what we have we are willing to give.” But John was involved too. The question is how was he involved? Did he stand and support Peter as he stepped up to the man? Was John, Peter’s prayer support or was John willing to identify himself with the action while the others stood back? Or was it that only Peter and John went up to the temple at that moment? Perhaps the others had gone to early morning prayers and decided not to go to the afternoon hour of prayer. Is that what happened? I don’t know, I wasn’t there, despite the fact that some of you think I look old enough to have been there. Like me, you will have to wait to ask Peter and John these questions. I don’t know the answers.
Another person asked why I focused the question in my list on the matter of “going up”. They said, “Isn’t it obvious. The temple was up on the Temple Mount, so they had to go up. You went up to the temple. I don’t know why you ask questions that have an obvious answer Ian.” But isn’t that the point of questions? We have to ask all our questions in order to sift out the ones that really matter. Sometimes if we ask some questions and omit others because they are too obvious or too stupid, we miss the gold buried therein. If it occurs to you, then ask. Yes, like the person said, the temple was on the mount and so they had to go up to the temple. But they would also have said they were going up to the temple even if it were on flat ground.
Some cultures, including some of the areas we have worked, have the idea of going up to something despite it being on the same level from where we have come. In the village the people used to say they were going up to the main town despite the fact that it was a case of going down the mountain and along the coastal plain to the main regional centre. I figured, ok maybe they are looking at this because we are down south and then have to go north. That makes sense to me because they are going up north. They could be looking at the motion globally and not locally; big picture people. No, that wasn’t the reason. The reason was they were going to the original traditional centre of the early kingdom and therefore, in their minds, they were going up – because of the importance of the place to them. Which leads to my reason for focusing on the “going up”. Is it going up in elevation or is going up in terms of importance? How does your global positioning system work for you? Is it geographically oriented? Or is it a matter of elevation in terms of importance to you? In other words, I am asking where does God figure in your affairs? If He is low priority then maybe that gives you the answer as to why you don’t see (m)any miracles. Think about that one for a while.
Josephus tells us in his writings that the ninth hour (3.00 pm) was the “hour of prayer”. The public sacrifices were offered in the temple twice a day in the early morning and again at the ninth hour. That is why I said above that the other disciples could have already attended the earlier “service”. Public prayers were said at both times of sacrifice and then again at sunset. Kind of like our two morning services and one evening service practiced in many churches. This miracle happened at the time of afternoon prayer. Now, is that a coincidence or is it significant? We already know that the disciples and the followers of Jesus devoted themselves to prayer daily. (Acts 2:42) So is the significant thing here the fact that the miracle took place at the time of prayer? But what about Pak Suryadi’s question? Surely the presence of Jesus is more significant than the time of prayer? Why didn’t it happen when Jesus was present? Hang on to that question. That’s surely another one to ponder deeply.
At this point I am going to stop for this morning. The next matter to deal with in The Setting, is a meaty one. It includes all of the remaining questions:
- What does Luke mean as “they approached the temple”?
- Where did this action actually take place – in the temple or outside it?
- Where is meant by the Beautiful Gate? What is the Beautiful Gate?
- Does it have some special significance?
So I choose to keep the next topic intact and treat it as one unit.
You know now that the quote from Einstein in the last Gem applies to me. It is not that I’m so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer. I am not comparing myself with Einstein in terms of smarts but more in terms of inquisitiveness. I have always been filled with questions even as a kid. My grandson is the same.
Stay with the question until you get an answer. We will look at the geography of the Temple and what was happening, in the next Gems.
It is not that I’m so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.
Albert Einstein
Stay with your questions until you get answers. Most of us give up long before the answer comes.
(Be like Pak Suryadi Hertanto)
Expect a miracle; those who expect a miracle more often times get them.
Anon
Your miracle is in process; be patient.
God
Don’t ruin a good today by thinking about a bad yesterday. Let it go. Move forward and lean into what God has for you.
Casey Treat