1. “Destroying the Barrier” Ephesians 2:11-22

2. Court of the Gentiles

3. Court of Women

4. Court of the Israelites and Court of the Priests

5. The Temple (Alternate View) The Holy Place and the Holy of Holies

6. Dividing Wall

7. The barrier “Within the first court, and not far distant, was a second one, accessible by a few steps and surrounded by a stone ballustrade with an inscription prohibiting the entrance of a foreigner under threat of the penalty of death.” Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 15.417

9. The inscription “No foreigner is to enter within the ballustrade and embankment around the sanctuary. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which follows.”

10. Historical Background The Ephesians’ Situation Gentile Christians unaware of real power. Gentile Christians feel second-rate. Paul’s Situation. The Book of Acts

11. Fulfillment of prophecy. “an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us…” Luke 1:1 Geography. “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” Luke 9:51 “Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem” Acts 19:21

12. Restoration of Israel Isaiah 56:1-8 Exiles return. Eunuchs included. Gentiles included. All worship in the Temple.

13. Restoration of Israel Isaiah 56:1-8 Exiles return in Acts 2. Eunuchs included. Gentiles included. All worship in the Temple.

14. Restoration of Israel Isaiah 56:1-8 Exiles return in Acts 2. Eunuchs included in Acts 8. Gentiles included. All worship in the Temple.

15. Restoration of Israel Isaiah 56:1-8 Exiles return in Acts 2. Eunuchs included in Acts 8. Gentiles included in Acts 10 and 15. All worship in the Temple.

16. Restoration of Israel Isaiah 56:1-8 Exiles return in Acts 2. Eunuchs included in Acts 8. Gentiles included in Acts 10 and 15. All worship in the Temple in Acts ?

17. Geography of Israel - Luke Begins in Temple. Moves to Israel and Gentile areas. Ends in Temple.

18. Geography of Israel - Acts Begins in Temple. Moves to Israel and Gentile areas. Ends in Temple??

19. Acts 21 - the expected climax When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, “This is the man who teaches all people everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place.” For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple area.

20. Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...

21. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” Isaiah 56:7 Brought near through the blood of Christ Destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall Both have access to the Father Joined together, rising into a holy temple

22. “God does not live in temples built by human hands” Any barriers to fellowship in the church, the temple of God, are human creations –including ethnic, –economic, –and gender divisions

23. You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were united with Christ in baptism have been clothed with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-27