The Second Temple in Jerusalem

The temple figures prominently in the last chapters of Luke and the first parts of Acts. This was the focal point of Jewish ritual and authority in Palestine and was considered sacred space. Jesus taught in the temple before his arrest and the apostles taught there also after the ascension. As noted in the previous post the temple was enlarged and restored as a public works project by Herod the Great. This was partly to keep the restless Jews busy and partly to win their loyalty by creating a more magnificent structure than that built by Solomon. Herod started the temple but it took some 46 years to complete.

The temple succeeded brilliantly as an architectural piece and would have been very impressive to visitors. The temple complex covered 35 acres on a hilltop in Jerusalem and the main access was by a series of stairways that brought visitors up the hillside and suddenly into the main temple court. The effect would be something like going to Dodger Stadium – you walk up a series of stairs, enter, and suddenly the entire field is before you.

The temple complex consisted of a series of concentric courts. The outer Court of Gentiles was the largest and a very public place - anyone could visit this part of the temple. The Beautiful Gate leads from there to the Court of Women, reserved as a place for Jewish women to place their offerings - Luke’s account of the story of the Widow’s Mite took place here. Another gate leads from this space to the Court of Israel – restricted to male Jews. The sacrificial altar was located in the inner Court of Priests, restricted to the Sadducees who were in charge of the temple. Finally, there was an inner room containing the Holy of Holies – a large curtain behind which a single high priest and God would converse on the Day of Atonement. This curtain is specifically mentioned in Luke’s Passion narrative.

Jesus and the apostles would probably have done their preaching in the Court of Gentiles as this was the least restrictive and most public part of the temple complex. This was also a sort of marketplace with stalls and vendors, especially during the high holy days and feasts. It was here that Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers who were charging people exorbitant rates for the right to buy sacrificial animals during Passover.

In 70 AD the temple was destroyed by the Romans as retribution for the Jewish revolt. The only visible remains are parts of the retaining wall foundation and this is known today as the Wailing Wall.

The temple was an important symbolic place in Jerusalem and the actions of Jesus and the apostles here take on a special significance, as we shall see in our study.


Links of Interest

A general description of Herod’s temple appears here: http://www.cptryon.org/xpipassio/passio/arch/2templ.html


A more detailed description of the temple is given here: http://www.bible-history.com/jewishtemple/



Study/Discussion Questions


1. Herod’s temple is not unique in its architectural plan of concentric, ever more restrictive spaces. Can you name other examples?


2. In what ways would our Trinity campus be similar or different from the temple plan?


3. Read Luke 19:45 – 48.
Where does this incident occur? Why do you think the priests would want to kill Jesus?


4. Read Luke 23:44 - 46
What is the significance of the tearing of the temple curtain?


5. Read Acts 3:1 – 16.
Using the links above, can you identify the location of this story inside the temple complex?