Acts 3:1-10 | Worship in the Good, in the Bad, and With Hopeনমুনা

Acts 3 says all of this is taking place at the temple. More specifically, just outside the temple at one of its gates.

The temple in Jerusalem is the place where God chose to make his presence known among his people. In Israel’s past, here is where God’s glory was known. All of this vanished at the Exile where Ezekiel records God’s glory leaving the temple over Israel’s obstinate sin. But that didn’t keep the people of God from hoping that maybe one day God would come to fill it with his presence again and yearning for his return.

The temple was divided into sections. Think of it like restricted zones. The center was the Holy of Holies. This is where God’s presence dwelled. Only the high priest could go in, and that only once per year. Outside of that was accessible by the priests, and outside of that, any ceremonially clean Israelite male. It kept expanding out to a court for women, and finally, a place called Solomon’s Porch – a large area where Gentiles could gather who either wanted to see the spectacle or who came to believe that Yahweh was God despite being restricted from entering because they were not the covenant people of God. It was also a place for those who, due to some kind of condition, were barred further access because they were unclean. Here was the gate called Beautiful where the beggar sat, dividing Jews and Gentiles, clean and unclean – ironically keeping those who weren’t “beautiful” from deeper access to the temple.

Let’s not miss something. Up until now, the story of Acts has been taking place in Jerusalem. Luke’s Gospel starts and finishes there, and the first followers of Jesus stayed there according to Jesus’s instructions. But God is on the move! It started at the temple. God’s power is now seen beyond it. Outside the gate. The power of Christ is not restricted to specific space. The power of Jesus is displayed outside the temple. And it’s for everyone. Because Jesus’s kingdom is over all, and Jesus is looking to bring his kingdom to the ends of the earth. The man who found himself begging on the outside is one of the first to experience the power of Jesus. Jesus’s gospel is for anyone and everyone who needs it.