Note 2 at Jn. 10:23: Solomon's porch was a beautiful walkway lined with evenly spaced columns which was located on the east side of the temple area. It was supposedly built by Solomon on an artificial embankment overlooking the Kidron Valley (1 Ki. 6:3; 1 Chr. 28:11).

Solomon's temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 B.C. but rebuilt from 537 to 515 B.C. and called Zerubbabel's temple. About 19 B.C., Herod the Great began rebuilding Zerubbabel's temple on an even larger scale than Solomon's original temple. The area called Solomon's porch was considered a remnant of Solomon's original temple. It covered a huge area--approximately 900 feet long and 100 feet wide (or 90,000 sq. ft.)-- but part of that area was covered by two rows of huge columns stretching the length of that side of the temple area. There was enough room, if needed however, to accommodate literally thousands of people on this porch.

Acts 5:12 mentions the apostles as "all with one accord in Solomon's porch." Acts 3:11 mentions that "all the people ran together unto them (Peter and John) in the porch that is called Solomon's." Although not stated in scripture, it is likely that when the "multitudes came together" (Acts 2:6) after the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the "house where they (the 120 or so disciples) were sitting," the multitude probably came to Solomon's porch. Acts 2:41 says that about 3000 souls "were added unto them" on the day of Pentecost, and they certainly couldn't have fit into the house of Acts 2:2.

Solomon's porch would be a natural meeting or gathering area (1) because both Jews and Gentiles were allowed there and (2) the gate Beautiful (Acts 3:2) led to the only road going east out of Jerusalem. Since Solomon's porch had to be crossed anytime Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives or Bethany, it was likely a place in which they spent a lot of time, especially in the last few months of Jesus' earthly ministry. According to Acts 3:11 and 5:12, it certainly was a place the apostles and disciples frequented in the early days of the church.