Acts 3:1

Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

'PETER AND JOHN'-We often find these two men mentioned together. They had been partners in. fishing business (Luke 5:10) Both of them had been looking for the Messiah, before they met Jesus (John 1:41; John 1:35). Peter, James and John constituted an inner circle among the apostles (Matthew 17:1; Mark 5:37; Matthew 26:37. We find both of them running to the empty tomb (John 20:3); and fishing together after the resurrection (Acts 21:7). As of Galatians 2:9. we find Peter and John still together in Jerusalem.

'GOING UP INTO THE TEMPLE'-'ascending the terraces, on the highest of which the temple stood.' (Vincent p. 458)

Bruce notes, 'The Court of Israel was that part of the temple area to which Jewish laymen were admitted. The outer court of the temple was rebuilt and extended by Herod...Gentiles might walk about in it, and it was therefore called the Court of the Gentiles..From the Court of the Gentiles, after ascending some steps, one might pass through the barrier which separated the outer court from the inner courts. Notices in Greek and Latin were fixed to this barrier, warning Gentiles not to penetrate farther, on pain of death...Nine gates led through the barrier, of which the Beautiful Gate was probably one..The first of the inner courts was the Court of the Women, containing the treasury (Mark 12:41 ff): it was so called because Jewish women might enter thus far, but no farther. Jewish laymen might go farther, into the Court of Israel. Beyond this was the Court of the Priests, reserved for priests and Levites...within this court stood the sanctuary building itself, with its two compartments, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.' (p. 83)

'AT THE HOUR OF PRAYER, BEING THE NINTH HOUR'-i.e.. p.m. 'The traditions of the Jews (rather than. specific O.T. commandment) had fixed the third, the sixth, and the ninth hours as times for private prayer.' (Reese p. 151) In addition the ninth hour was also the time for the offering of the evening sacrifice (Exodus 2:41; Numbers 2:3). 'called in Luke 1:10. "the hour of incense", that is, the hour of the evening sacrifice, when the people stood outside in prayer, while the priest within offered the sacrifice and burnt the incense.' (P.P. Comm. p. 92)

Point to Note:

From this example, various writers assume that the early church was still keeping many of the Jewish laws. But other passages clearly inform us that the apostles understood that they were no longer under the Law of Moses (Acts 15:10). We should first remember, being of the Jewish race gave Peter and John the right to enter this court. Reese notes, 'At the temple, during the hours or prayer, they would find. ready-made audience to whom they might preach.' (p. 151)

Peter and John are entering the temple-like Paul entered the various synagogues, i.e. to find people to preach to and convert (Acts 17:1).