Archaeology: The Gentile temple warning

In 1871 a stone slab containing Greek writing surfaced in Jerusalem. In 1938 another slab similar to it was found just north of the temple mount. Both translate, “No Gentile may enter within this Temple barrier! Anyone caught will be responsible for his own death.”

According to Josephus, these warnings were hung on a low wall that divided the public square of the temple from the sacred inner courtyard that was accessible only to Jews.

These rare finds from the temple of Jesus’ day shed light on the temple regulations, and enrich our understanding of passages such as Acts 21:28-29 and Ephesians 2:14.

Kyle Campbell