John 5:2

There is (estin). Bengel argues that this proves a date before the destruction of Jerusalem, but it is probably only John's vivid memory. By the sheep gate (epi th probatikh). Supply pulh (gate) which occurs with the adjective probatikh (pertaining to sheep, probata) in Nehemiah 3:1 Nehemiah 3:22 . A pool (kolumbhqra). A diving or swimming pool (from kolumbaw, to swim, Acts 27:43 ), old word, only here in N.T. Which is called (h epilegomenh). "The surnamed" (present passive participle, only N.T. example except Acts 15:40 first aorist middle participle epilexameno). In Hebrew (Ebraisti). "In Aramaic" strictly as in Acts 19:13 Acts 19:17 Acts 19:20 ; Acts 20:16 ; Revelation 9:11 ; Revelation 16:16 . Bethesda (Beqesda, or House of Mercy. So A C Syr cu). Aleph D L 33 have Beqzaqa or House of the Olive, while B W Vulg. Memph. have Beqsaida. Having five porches (pente stoa ecousa). Stoa was a covered colonnade where people can gather from which Stoic comes ( Acts 17:18 ). See John 10:23 ; Acts 3:11 . Schick in 1888 found twin pools north of the temple near the fortress of Antonia one of which has five porches. It is not, however, certain that this pool existed before A.D. 70 when the temple was destroyed (Sanday, Sacred Sites of the Gospels, p. 55). Some have identified it with the Pool of Siloam ( Acts 9:7 ), though John distinguishes them. There is also the Virgin's Well, called the Gusher, because it periodically bubbles over from a natural spring, a kind of natural siphon. This is south of the temple in the Valley of Kedron and quite possibly the real site.