Q&A 0676 – No Gentiles into the Temple Courts?

In Acts 21:29, Paul was criticised for bringing an uncircumcised Greek into the temple courts. I was trying to find the OT regulation stipulating that Gentiles, aliens or the uncircumcised did not have access to the Temple/Tabernacle. Could you enlighten me? -- Simon Phillips (Edinburgh)

There is a verse which probably serves as the basis for the prohibition. It is Ezekiel 44:9: "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites" (NIB = NIV, British version). I hope this helps.

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