Inside the Temple

41 Next he brought me into the great hall and measured the pilasters;^(A) on each side the width of the pilaster was 10½ feet.^{[a][b] 2} The width of the entrance was 17½ feet,^[c] and the side walls of the entrance were 8¾ feet^[d] wide on each side. He also measured the length of the great hall, 70 feet,^[e] and the width, 35 feet.^{[f](B) 3} He went inside the next room and measured the pilasters at the entrance;^(C) they were 3½ feet^[g] wide. The entrance was 10½ feet^[h] wide, and the width of the entrance’s side walls on each side^[i] was 12¼ feet.^{[j] 4} He then measured the length of the room adjacent to the great hall, 35 feet,^[k] and the width, 35 feet.^(D) And he said to me, “This is the most holy place.”^(E)

Outside the Temple

⁵ Then he measured the wall of the temple; it was 10½ feet^[l] thick. The width of the side rooms all around the temple was seven feet.^{[m](F) 6} The side rooms were arranged one above another in three stories of 30 rooms each.^[n] There were ledges on the wall of the temple all around to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports would not be in the temple wall itself.^{(G) 7} The side rooms surrounding the temple widened at each successive story, for the structure surrounding the temple went up by stages. This was the reason for the temple’s broadness as it rose. And so, one would go up from the lowest story to the highest by means of the middle one.^[o](H)

⁸ I saw that the temple had a raised platform surrounding it; this foundation for the side rooms was 10½ feet high.^{[p](I) 9} The thickness of the outer wall of the side rooms was 8¾ feet.^[q] The free space between the side rooms of the temple ¹⁰ and the outer chambers was 35 feet^[r] wide all around the temple.^{(J) 11} The side rooms opened into the free space, one entrance toward the north and another to the south. The area of free space was 8¾ feet^[s] wide all around.

¹² Now the building that faced the temple yard toward the west was 122½ feet^[t] wide. The wall of the building was 8¾ feet^[u] thick on all sides, and the building’s length was 157½ feet.^[v]

¹³ Then the man measured the temple; it was 175 feet^[w] long.^(K) In addition, the temple yard and the building, including its walls, were 175 feet long. ¹⁴ The width of the front of the temple along with the temple yard to the east was 175 feet. ¹⁵ Next he measured the length of the building facing the temple yard to the west, with its galleries^[x] on each side;^(L) it was 175 feet.

Interior Wooden Structures

The interior of the great hall and the porticoes of the court— ¹⁶ the thresholds, the beveled windows,^(M) and the balconies all around with their three levels opposite the threshold—were overlaid with wood on all sides.^(N) They were paneled from the ground to the windows (but the windows were covered), ¹⁷ reaching to the top of the entrance, and as far as the inner temple and on the outside. On every wall all around, on the inside and outside, was a pattern ¹⁸ carved with cherubim and palm trees.^(O) There was a palm tree between each pair of cherubim.^(P) Each cherub had two faces: ¹⁹ a human face turned toward the palm tree on one side,^(Q) and a lion’s face turned toward it on the other. They were carved throughout the temple on all sides. ²⁰ Cherubim and palm trees were carved from the ground to the top of the entrance and on the wall of the great hall.

²¹ The doorposts of the great hall were square,^(R) and the front of the sanctuary had the same appearance. ²² The altar was^[y] made of wood, 5¼ feet^[z] high and 3½ feet^[aa] long.^[ab] It had corners, and its length^[ac] and sides were of wood.^(S) The man told me, “This is the table that stands before the Lord.”^(T)

²³ The great hall and the sanctuary each had a double door,^{(U) 24} and each of the doors had two swinging panels.^(V) There were two panels for one door and two for the other. ²⁵ Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the doors of the great hall like those carved on the walls. There was a wooden canopy^[ad](W) outside, in front of the portico. ²⁶ There were beveled windows and palm trees on both sides,^(X) on the side walls of the portico, the side rooms of the temple, and the canopies.^[ae]

The Priests’ Chambers

42 Then the man led me out by way of the north gate into the outer court.^(Y) He brought me to the group of chambers opposite the temple yard and opposite the building^(Z) to the north. ² Along the length of the chambers, which was 175 feet,^[af](AA) there was an entrance on the north; the width was 87½ feet.^{[ag] 3} Opposite the 35 foot space^[ah] belonging to the inner court and opposite the paved surface^(AB) belonging to the outer court, the structure rose gallery by gallery^(AC) in three tiers. ⁴ In front of the chambers was a walkway toward the inside,^(AD) 17½ feet^[ai] wide and 175 feet^[aj] long,^[ak] and their entrances were on the north. ⁵ The upper chambers were narrower because the galleries took away more space from them than from the lower and middle stories of the building. ⁶ For they were arranged in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts;^(AE) therefore the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and middle stories. ⁷ A wall on the outside ran in front of the chambers, parallel to them, toward the outer court; it was 87½ feet^[al] long. ⁸ For the chambers on the outer court were 87½ feet long, while those facing the great hall were 175 feet^[am] long.^{(AF) 9} At the base of these chambers there was an entryway on the east side as one enters them from the outer court.^(AG)

¹⁰ In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the south,^[an] there were chambers facing the temple yard^(AH) and the western building, ¹¹ with a passageway in front of them, just like the chambers that faced north.^(AI) Their length and width, as well as all their exits, measurements, and entrances, were identical. ¹² The entrance at the beginning of the passageway, the way in front of the corresponding^[ao] wall as one enters on the east side, was similar to the entrances of the chambers that were on the south side.

¹³ Then the man said to me, “The northern and southern chambers that face the temple yard are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the Lord will eat^(AJ) the most holy offerings.^(AK) There they will deposit the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, sin offerings, and restitution offerings—for the place is holy.^{(AL) 14} Once the priests have entered, they must not go out from the holy area to the outer court until they have removed the clothes they minister in, for these are holy.^(AM) They are to put on other clothes before they approach the public area.”^(AN)

Outside Dimensions of the Temple Complex

¹⁵ When he finished measuring inside the temple complex, he led me out by way of the gate that faced east and measured all around the complex.^(AO)

²⁰ He measured the temple complex on all four sides. It had a wall all around it,^(AP) 875 feet long and 875 feet^(AQ) wide, to separate the holy from the common.^(AR)

Lying to the Holy Spirit

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. ² However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.^(A)

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart^(B) to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field? ⁴ Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God!” ⁵ When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard.^{(C) 6} The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.^(D)

⁷ There was an interval of about three hours; then his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the field for this price?”

“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”

⁹ Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!”^(E)

¹⁰ Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.

Apostolic Signs and Wonders

¹² Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles.^(F) By common consent they would all meet in Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(G) 13} None of the rest dared to join them, but the people praised them highly.^{(H) 14} Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—crowds of both men and women. ¹⁵ As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow^(I) might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ In addition, a large group came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

In and Out of Prison

¹⁷ Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.^{(J) 18} So they arrested^[a] the apostles and put them in the city jail.^{(K) 19} But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,^{(L) 20} “Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.”^{(M) 21} In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach.

The Apostles on Trial Again

When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full Senate of the sons of Israel—and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.^{(N) 22} But when the temple police got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported, ²³ “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” ²⁴ As^[b] the commander of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, as to what could come of this.

²⁵ Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple complex and teaching the people.” ²⁶ Then the commander went with the temple police and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.^{(O) 27} After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, ²⁸ “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name?^(P) And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!”^(Q)

²⁹ But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus,^(R) whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree.^{(S) 31} God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.^{(T) 32} We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit^(U) whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

³³ When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.^{(V) 34} A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men^[c] to be taken outside for a little while.^{(W) 35} He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re going to do to these men. ³⁶ Not long ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about 400 men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his partisans were dispersed and came to nothing.^{(X) 37} After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following.^[d] That man also perished, and all his partisans were scattered. ³⁸ And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown;^{(Y) 39} but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him.^{(Z) 40} After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.^{(AA) 41} Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name.^{[e](AB) 42} Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.