Often Evangelicals will appeal to Matt 27:51//Mark 15:38//Luke 23:45 in the Synoptic Gospels as "proof" that true believers would never have any use of the temple in their religious ceremonies in the New Covenant. Often this is coupled with the traditional Protestant interpretation of “it is finished” (τετέλεσται) in John 19:30. To see why such arguments are, exegetically-speaking, dead-wrong, see, for instance:
Matthew B. Brown, The Israelite Temple and the Early Christians
The Acts of the Apostles, recording events after the tearing of the temple veil, further refutes such a naïve reading of Matt 27:51 and its parallels. For instance, not only did Paul worship there (Acts 21:26-30; 22:17; 24:6-18; 25:8; 26:21), Paul is explicitly said to have performed purification rituals there:
Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. (Acts 21:26)
Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. (Acts 24:18)
Additionally, Paul prayed there:
And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance (Acts 22:17)
Paul denied that he had offended the temple, implying he accepted the sanctity thereof, even after the rending of the temple veil and the ascension of Christ:
While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. (Acts 25:8)
Furthermore, Paul offered sacrifice (προσφορα) in the temple:
Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them (προσηνέχθη ὑπὲρ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου αὐτῶν ἡ προσφορά). (Acts 21:26; cf. Num 6:14-18)
Finally, Paul had a vision of Christ (the “Just One” [τὸν δίκαιον]) in the temple, paralleling Old Testament "temple theophanies" which strongly imply a special sanctity in the temple where God still appears to men even after Christ's ascension:
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One (τὸν δίκαιον), and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. (Acts 22:14-21)
Such is rather obvious that the temple itself did not become obsolete with the death of Jesus and/or the rending of the temple veil.
