Short Article or Commentary Recommendation?

I was having a hard time comprehending why in Acts 3:1 the early Christians were still going to the temple with the Jews at the hour of prayer. Through some discussions, most people that I have discussed this with tell me that the temple still had significance to the early Christians. I have read most of the commentaries in my Scholar's Silver and most agree with this statement but fall short as to explaining why it was still important to them. I am trying to comprehend this and was wondering if anyone had a suggestion for a short read as to why the Christians still attended Jewish services. I know that some converted Jews had a hard time dividing Judaism and Christianity (ex. the book of Hebrews) but obviously I am missing something since this was Peter and John.

One note:

I know that it is very easy to simply write your opinion (which may be 100% correct) but for some reason my threads asking for help like this seem to always disolve into debate. If you feel that a written response is more appropriate please email me at rick68(At)vqme/net(not com). It will probably go to my junk mail but disregard the "challenge response" that you may get. I will retrieve it manually. So I thank you for your help in advance and look forward to why the temple was/was not important to the early Christians.

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Comments

Matt Hamrick

Hi Rick,

I looked in NAC, ICC, and NICNT. After I read Acts 3 of course. My first impression was it is Peter and John going to the temple to pray. They end up witnessing and Peter preaches. So, I would say they were there to witness. All 3 commentaries I read also said at 3:00 pm (the ninth hour) was also a sacrifice according to the Talmud. What a perfect time for evangelism and sharing Jesus. That is exactly what they did. Keep on reading chapter 4 and see the result from the religious leaders that approached them.

Todd Phillips

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles , The Pillar New Testament Commentary :

The purpose of their going up to the temple (eis to hieron, as in 2:46) is indicated by the expression at the time of prayer (epi tēn hōran tēs proseuchēs). They wanted to be present for the service of public prayer that accompanied the evening sacrifice each day at three in the afternoon (tēn enatēn, ‘[at] the ninth [hour]’). Even though Jesus had implied that he would replace the temple in the plan and purpose of God (cf. Mt. 12:6; Jn. 2:19–22; 4:21–24), his disciples did not immediately disengage themselves from the temple and separate themselves from the traditional practices of their religion. As a group of pious Jews, aware that Israel’s hopes were being fulfilled in Jesus, they knew that their fundamental task was to bear testimony to him before fellow Israelites (1:8) and so become the means by which other Jews might be spared in the coming judgment and share in the blessings of the messianic era (cf. 3:17–26). The temple area remained an important context for that witness until they were excluded from it by mounting opposition to the gospel.

Kevin Maples

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/408827#Comment_408827

@ Todd Phillips: very helpful quote. Thanks.

Rick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/409168#Comment_409168

Thank you Matthew and Todd. Very helpful. Wow, there is a lot more going on in this book than I had ever noticed before. I guess that is one of the benefits of having Logos' software. I have had Logos since the older Libronix days but I never had much of a library or use until I started investing in it with the launch of Logos 4.

Thanks to everyone again. [:)]