Topical Bible: Temple: Solomon's: Beautiful Gate

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The Beautiful Gate, while not explicitly named in the Old Testament, is traditionally associated with the Temple of Solomon and later with the Second Temple, particularly in the context of the New Testament. The term "Beautiful Gate" is most prominently mentioned in the Book of Acts, where it serves as a significant location in the early Christian narrative.

Biblical Context and Description

The Beautiful Gate is referenced in Acts 3:2-10, where it is described as the location where Peter and John healed a man who had been lame from birth. The passage states: "Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts" (Acts 3:2). This gate was one of the entrances to the Temple complex, and its name suggests an aesthetic grandeur that made it a notable landmark.

Historical and Architectural Significance

While the exact identification of the Beautiful Gate remains a matter of scholarly debate, it is often associated with the Nicanor Gate, which was one of the gates leading to the inner courts of the Temple. According to historical sources such as the writings of Josephus, the Nicanor Gate was made of Corinthian bronze and was renowned for its splendor, surpassing even gates overlaid with gold and silver.

The Temple of Solomon, as described in 1 Kings 6-7, was a magnificent structure built under the reign of King Solomon, intended to house the Ark of the Covenant and serve as the central place of worship for the Israelites. The Temple was constructed with great attention to detail and adorned with precious materials, reflecting the glory and majesty of God.

Theological Implications

The Beautiful Gate, as a part of the Temple complex, holds deep theological significance. The Temple itself was the dwelling place of God's presence among His people, symbolizing the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate in Acts 3 serves as a powerful testament to the continuation of God's work through the apostles and the early Church. It illustrates the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.

Cultural and Religious Impact

In the context of the early Christian community, the Beautiful Gate represents a point of intersection between Jewish tradition and the burgeoning Christian faith. The miracle performed by Peter and John not only affirmed the apostles' authority but also attracted attention to the message of the Gospel. The event led to Peter's sermon in Solomon's Colonnade, where he proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus and called for repentance (Acts 3:11-26).

The Beautiful Gate, therefore, serves as a symbol of the new covenant established through Christ, where physical and spiritual restoration is made available to all who believe. It underscores the transition from the old covenant, centered on the physical Temple, to the new covenant, where believers themselves become the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

In summary, the Beautiful Gate, while not directly mentioned in the Old Testament, plays a crucial role in the narrative of the early Church as recorded in the New Testament. It stands as a testament to the enduring beauty and significance of God's redemptive work throughout history.

Nave's Topical Index

Acts 3:2
And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Story of the Man at the Beautiful Gate
... worshipping and praising God in the Temple, the man, still holding fast to Peter
and John, went out with them through the Beautiful Gate, into Solomon's Porch. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the man.htm

The Healing of the Lame Man at the Beautiful Gate
... he was the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, they
were ... the astonished crowd rushed to them in what was called Solomon's Porch ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the healing of the lame.htm

Acts III
... The Beautiful gate of the temple, so called because of its magnificent ... colonnades
which faced the inner side of the temple wall, called Solomon's Portico. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts iii.htm

At the Feast of Tabernacles - First Discourse in the Temple
... 3959] Jesus Himself appeared in the Temple, and taught. ... 3960] He walked and taught
in Solomon's Porch,' and ... of Olives and faced the Beautiful Gate,' that formed ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi at the feast.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... the temple that is commonly called Solomon's.1. This ... became the common way into the
temple (1 Kings 6 ... porch was called Beautiful, even the Beautiful gate of the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

At the Temple Gate
... that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple: and they ... together
unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 6 at the temple.htm

'Then Shall the Lame Man Leap as an Hart'
... Solomon's porch was, like the Beautiful gate, on the east side of the Temple enclosure,
and may probably have been a usual place of rendezvous for the brethren ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/then shall the lame man.htm

At the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple.
... That He Who purified the Temple, was its True ... Jesus spake to the people in Solomon's
Porch.' There ... Porch, [4395] in front of the Beautiful Gate,' which formed ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xiv at the feast.htm

Acts iii. 1
... that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple." (v.9 ... the
people came together at the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily viii acts iii 1.htm

The Temple and Its Dedication
... Even the beautiful temple that had just been dedicated, He declared ... The humility
of Solomon at the time he began ... with the completion of the temple, when during ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm