The gate of a city was often a place for public business (Deut. 21: 19; Ruth 4: 1-11; 2 Sam. 3: 27; 2 Sam. 15: 2; Job 31: 21; Ps. 69: 12; Ps. 127: 5; Isa. 29: 21; Jer. 38: 7; Lam. 5: 14; Amos 5: 10-15). In heathen towns it was sometimes a place for sacrifice (Acts 14: 13).