Peter and John went to the temple at the hour of prayer because they were still practicing the Law and had not yet been told to stop temple worship.
They went at the ninth hour, the appointed Jewish hour of prayer, out of the same Jewish habit and ritual they had always followed. The temple was still operating, and no one had told them they were under grace instead of the Law. Les Feldick emphasizes this was not a Christian practice, since the church has no prescribed hour for prayer.
Acts 3:1 — The verse directly records Peter and John going to the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
The Bible records that Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour (Acts 3:1). Earlier, Acts 2:46 shows the believers continuing daily with one accord in the temple. Scripture does not explicitly give a reason for the visit, but it places these Jewish believers at the temple during a set Jewish prayer time.
Les Feldick teaches that Peter and John went to the temple because they were still practicing the Law and had not been told to stop temple worship. The temple was still open and operating, and God had not said a word about staying away. The ninth hour was the Jewish hour of prayer, so they went obediently under that Jewish habit and ritual. Les emphasizes that this was not a Christian practice; the church has no stipulated hour of prayer. Peter and John were typical Jewish believers who had recognized Jesus as the Christ but were not yet aware of the doctrines of grace, so they continued in the law-keeping, temple-centered system.
Les Feldick points out that there is nothing in church doctrine that stipulates a particular hour for prayer. Judaism had prescribed prayer times, and Peter and John were still under that Jewish habit. Their temple visit was not a Christian practice; it was a continuation of the old covenant system. No one had told them to stop temple worship.
Les explains that Peter and John were still practicing the Law. They had believed Jesus was the Christ and had repented and been baptized, but they had not yet been told they were no longer under the Law. They were typical Jewish believers, not yet aware of the doctrines of grace. The temple was still running full speed, and no one had said a word about staying away.
The ninth hour was the appointed Jewish hour of prayer. Judaism had set times for prayer, and Peter and John obediently went up at that hour. Les notes that this raises a question: if this was the beginning of the church, why were these men participating in a prescribed temple prayer time when the church has none? The answer is that they were still under the old covenant system.
Les emphasizes that Acts 2 and 3 are still very Jewish. God was still dealing with the nation of Israel under the same circumstances that began with John the Baptist. The early Jewish believers had not been told they were under grace; they were still law-keepers. This helps readers avoid assuming that the church began with a Gentile-oriented, grace-based gospel at Pentecost.
Israel's Kingdom Context
Les sets the background: John the Baptist called Israel to repentance and baptism in preparation for their King, so that Israel could become a nation of priests. This explains why Peter and John were still operating within Israel's temple-centered system.
Jewish Ritual of Prayer
Les says Peter and John went to the temple at the ninth hour because they were still under that Jewish habit and ritual; no one had told them not to, and the church has no such stipulated prayer hour.
Temple Worship Not Yet Abandoned
Les points out that Peter and John went to the temple, not a church, because no one had told them to stop temple worship; even after Pentecost they were still involved in it.
The Ninth Hour of Prayer
Les explains that the ninth hour was the Jewish hour of prayer and Peter and John obediently went; this raises the question why church believers would follow a prescribed temple prayer time.
Still Practicing the Law
Les stresses that the temple hadn't been closed down and Peter and John were still practicing the Law; Acts 3 is still very Jewish, with no Gentiles mentioned.
No Word to Leave the Temple
Les points out that the early believers continued daily in the temple because God had not said a word about staying away; readers should not assume they had been told they were under grace.
Peter's Law-Keeping
Les says Peter was still practicing the law because he hadn't been told to stop temple worship or that he was under grace; he was a typical Jewish believer unaware of the doctrines of grace.
Believing Jews as Law-Keepers
Les explains that all believing Jews in Acts were still law-keepers; nobody had told them to quit going to the temple or stop keeping the Law.
Acts 3:1: Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
This is the verse that records the action and the time; the reason for the visit is explained by the Jewish context and Les's teaching.
Acts 2:46: And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.
Shows the early believers were still meeting in the temple after Pentecost, before any instruction to stop temple worship.
They went because it was the Jewish hour of prayer and they were still practicing the Law. No one had told them to stop temple worship or that they were no longer under the Law.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the church has no stipulated hour of prayer; that was a Jewish ritual. Grace-age believers are not told to meet at a particular hour.
Yes, they were Jewish believers who had repented and been baptized, but they were not yet aware of the doctrines of grace. They were still law-keepers.
Watch the Teaching: Why Peter Preached to "Ye Men of Israel" (Acts 2 & 3 Explained)