Lexical Summary pulón: Gate, gateway, entrance Original Word: πυλών Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a vestibule, gatewayFrom pule; a gate-way, door-way of a building or city; by implication, a portal or vestibule -- gate, porch. see GREEK pule HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4440 pylṓn (a masculine noun) – "properly, 'the passage which led from the street through the front part of the house to the inner court,' closed by a heavy 4439 (pýlē) at the streetward end, 'entrance passage, gateway; gate' " (Souter). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pulé Definition a porch, gateway NASB Translation gate (5), gates (12), gateway (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4440: πυλώνπυλών, πυλῶνος, ὁ (πύλη) (Aristotle, Polybius, others), the Sept. often for פֶּתַח, sometimes for שַׁעַר; 1. a large gate: of a palace, Luke 16:20; of a house, Acts 10:17; plural (of the gates of a city), Acts 14:13; Revelation 21:12, 13, 15, 21, 25; Revelation 22:14. 2. the anterior part of a house, into which one enters through the gate, porch: Matthew 26:71 (cf. 69 and 75); Acts 12:14; hence, ἡ θύρα τοῦ πυλῶνος, Acts 12:13. Architectural and Cultural Background First-century Mediterranean homes, estates, and civic centers customarily featured a covered gatehouse that separated public streets from private courts. This structure provided security, controlled access, and served as a social waypoint where news, commerce, and justice converged (compare Deuteronomy 21:19; Proverbs 31:23 for the Hebrew parallel). Because of its strategic placement, the πυλών naturally became a setting where the decisive movements of persons and the unveiling of hearts could be observed. Threshold Moments in the Gospels • Matthew 26:71 locates Peter’s second denial “at the gateway,” where the flickering light of a courtyard fire exposed the wavering disciple. The gateway stands as the place where allegiance to Christ is either concealed or confessed. Gates and the Early Church’s Mission • At Joppa (Acts 10:17), Gentile visitors stand “at the gate” of Simon the tanner’s house while Peter is still grappling with the unclean-clean vision. The literal threshold matches the theological threshold: the gospel is about to cross into the nations. Eternal Gates of Revelation John’s vision elevates the word from common architecture to eschatological glory. Twelve gates of pearl (Revelation 21:12-13, 21) symbolize perfect access through God’s covenant order—tribes, apostles, angels, and precise measurements all in harmony. “Its gates will never be shut… because there will be no night there” (Revelation 21:25), affirming perpetual security and unhindered fellowship. Final beatitude crowns the theme: “Blessed are those who wash their robes… and may enter the city by its gates” (Revelation 22:14). The long biblical journey from guarded entry to everlasting welcome is complete. Theological Themes 1. Access and Exclusion: Gates control entry; Scripture consistently links them to moral and spiritual qualification (Psalm 118:19-20; Revelation 22:15). Practical Ministry Implications • Cultivate hospitality that turns every “gate” of the home or church into a place of mercy and gospel welcome. Key References Matthew 26:71; Luke 16:20; Acts 10:17; Acts 12:13-14; Acts 14:13; Revelation 21:12-25; Revelation 22:14 Englishman's Concordance Matthew 26:71 N-AMSGRK: εἰς τὸν πυλῶνα εἶδεν αὐτὸν NAS: When he had gone out to the gateway, another KJV: into the porch, another INT: to the porch saw him Luke 16:20 N-AMS Acts 10:17 N-AMS Acts 12:13 N-GMS Acts 12:14 N-AMS Acts 12:14 N-GMS Acts 14:13 N-AMP Revelation 21:12 N-AMP Revelation 21:12 N-DMP Revelation 21:13 N-NMP Revelation 21:13 N-NMP Revelation 21:13 N-NMP Revelation 21:13 N-NMP Revelation 21:15 N-AMP Revelation 21:21 N-NMP Revelation 21:21 N-GMP Revelation 21:25 N-NMP Revelation 22:14 N-DMP Strong's Greek 4440 |
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