The Gospel of Mark Chapter 13:1-23 13:1 “And as He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!’” The Temple constructed during the days of Herod made quite an impression on the disciples. Matthew 24:1 “when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him”. Mark 13:1 “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings”. “According to Josephus, some of the stones were nearly seventy feet in length, twelve feet in height, and eighteen feet in breadth. The same historian tells us of the gifts or offerings, which adorned it: crowns, shields, goblets, chain of gold presented by Agrippa, and a golden vine with its vast clusters, which was the gift of Herod. The temple was built of white limestone and its beauty and strength made it admired of all nations. It took forty-six years to finish it, and ten thousand skilled workmen are said to have been employed in its construction” (McGarvey pp. 619-620). When Jesus spoke these words the temple was not finished (John 2:20). Begun in the 18th year of Herod of Great (19 B.C.), the entire complex was terminated about 86 years later in the days of the procurator Albinus (62-64 A.D.).
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