“One time there was a Pharisee {\cf2\super [283]} and a tax collector. {\cf2\super [284]} One day they both went to the temple {\cf2\super [285]} to pray.
The queen saw the food at the king’s table. She saw his officials meeting together. She saw the servants in the palace and the good clothes that they wore. She saw his parties and the sacrifices that he offered in the temple. All these things really amazed her—they just ‘took her breath away’!
Lord, I and your people Israel will turn to this place and pray to you. Please hear those prayers! We know that you live in heaven. We ask you to hear our prayer there and forgive us.
“Go back and speak to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestor [244] David says: I have heard your prayer and I have seen your tears. So I will heal you. On the third day, you will go up to the temple of the Lord.
Jesus said, “It is written \{in the Scriptures {\cf2\super [306]} \}, ‘My house will be a house of prayer.’ {\cf2\super [307]} But you have changed it into a ‘hiding place for thieves.’ {\cf2\super [308]} ”
These Jews have known me for a long time. If they want to, they can tell you that I was a good Pharisee. {\cf2\super [487]} And the Pharisees obey the laws of the Jewish religion more carefully than any other group of Jewish people.
One day Peter and John went to the temple {\cf2\super [50]} area. It was three o’clock in the afternoon. This was the time for the daily temple prayer service.
I was circumcised eight days after my birth. I am from the people of Israel {\cf2\super [18]} and the family group of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew (Jew), and my parents were Hebrews. The law \{of Moses\} was very important to me. That is why I became a Pharisee. {\cf2\super [19]}