29. Southern Steps

Southern Steps area denoted by purple rectangle

Highlights of the Southern Steps:

• This is the only surface in Israel that one can be certain Jesus and his disciples walked on, as the excavated steps served as the entrance to the Temple Mount during the time of Jesus.
• Some of the events on the day of Pentecost likely occurred here, including the 3,000 baptisms. (Acts 2-4)
• It is likely that the Southern Gate was the “Beautiful Gate” where the lame beggar was healed by Peter. (Acts 3:1-11)

More on the Southern Steps:

The Southern Steps are also referred to as the “Teaching Steps” or the “Rabbi Steps” because rabbis (including Gamaliel, who taught Paul) would teach on these steps.

There are fifteen stairs at the Southern Steps. Some say this is for the 15 Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 120-134). Also some claim they differ in width in height so that one cannot run up the stairs hastily, but must do it soberly and thoughtfully.

Fifty of Israel’s mikvahs, or ritual baths, are located at the base of the Southern Steps of the Temple in Jerusalem. This is one of the reasons it is believed that the 3,000 baptisms at the day of Pentecost occurred here.

In 1994, astronaut Neil Armstrong visited the Southern Steps of the Temple in Jerusalem:

Armstrong asked: “So Jesus stepped right here?”
“That’s right,” answered his host, Ben-Dov.
“I have to tell you,” Armstrong said as he bent down to kiss the ground, “I am more excited stepping on these stones than I was stepping on the moon.”

See: Temple Mount and Jerusalem

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Drawing of the southern wall of the temple in the time of Jesus – the early church would meet under the red portico (“Solomon’s Portico”) inside the southern wall

The Southern Wall of the Temple in Jerusalem – with the Mount of Olives in the background

Ritual baths uncovered at the base of the southern steps of the temple – likely used for baptisms on the day of Pentecost

Southern Wall of the Temple