Thursday 6, August 2026

Hello siblings,

I hope you are as fascinated with the saga of God’s Spirit at work in the initial post-Pentecost period as I am. Seeing the former disciples come into their own, especially my friend Peter, is heartening. I am deeply encouraged to pray for revival in our contexts. May God’s Spirit quicken and stir us as we consider Today’s Holy Nougat

Acts 5:12 CEVDCI

[12] The apostles worked many miracles and wonders among the people. All of the Lord’s followers often met in the part of the temple known as Solomon’s Porch.

The Meeting Place

Location! Location! Location! Location, they say, is everything. In many ways, that is so true. Have you ever ordered an Uber and missed it simply because you were in the wrong place? In those early days of travelling by Uber (especially when my mom visited me), that was the norm. I assumed the driver was meeting near enough to us so we didn’t have to walk very far – it didn’t—a guaranteed frustrating moment. Location also matters in regard to accessibility and where one is situated. ‘Prime real estate’ is a thing, and can attract a hefty mortgage or rental.

It isn’t only about physical structures. A former colleague mastered the art of being situated in a prime location at events to facilitate networking. From their manoeuvring, it’s evident: seeing and being seen is important.

Self-Check

Do we strategically situate ourselves in prime locations professionally, personally, or socially? Why/not?

Digging Deeper

From your vantage point, the focus should be on the apostles’ miracles. That is important. But it would be of no consequence if they were extremely inaccessible. (I could be wrong. Sometimes the inaccessible Location is the draw in such cases). Given that place names in the biblical text are usually significant, let’s see whether Solomon’s Porch deserves a second or third glance.

Solomon’s Porch, according to Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, was built in what may have been the location of a porch on the eastern side of Solomon’s Temple. It was considered to be part of the Women’s Court, and may have contained foundation stones and piers laid by King Solomon. Hence, the name is relatively new, but aspects of the Location seem to maintain the historicity of the original temple.

More critically, however, Solomon’s Porch (aka Portico or Colonnade) was one of the places from which Jesus taught at the Temple (John 10:23). It was the site of a deep debate between the religious leaders about Y’shua’s identity, and they questioned him profoundly. I suspect that for the apostles, the connection to Y’shua increased its popularity for them, confirming its popularity for teaching and, by extension, miracles. (The healing by the Beautiful Gate was in the vicinity).

May I suggest an added reason for Luke’s mention of the location? The historicity that connects the venue to Solomon, Y’shua, and accessibility to Jews and Gentiles also invites us to think about Luke’s intent. Although the gathered community of believers were united, they were about to face new threats to their existence by … you guessed it correctly – the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law. His reference was not accidental. That could be considered a context clue, a hint of what was about to occur.

Siblings, there are many context clues in the biblical narrative that relate to our lives. We simply need to read and be aware. Thus, we might argue that among the locations that matter for us as believers, the Bible is critical for revelation about the present, past, and future acts of God. The miracles, signs, and wonders do matter. But knowing God, accepting Y’shua as our sovereign – that’s key. And in that regard, the Location that matters is our heart, the home for Y’shua.

Point to Ponder

Is our location adequately prepared for Y’shua’s easy access? What do we need to alter, shift or add to improve our heart’s status as a prime location? The Bible and prayer offer some critical clues.

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May all we seek be found in Christ