Most houses in Judea and the surrounding areas did not have gates. Since the house is said to have a gate (distinguished from a door) we can assume that it was an elegant house rather than a simple residence. The men are thus forced to stop at the gate to confirm that it is the right house.1
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate