4 The Christian congregation began with about 120 disciples who were “all together at the same place” —an upper room— and who were anointed with holy spirit. The reason the disciples were all together in the upper room was to celebrate the Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest. Um, quick question. Adventist Forum, publisher of SPECTRUM and spectrummagazine.org, is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to promoting community through conversation in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Luke records that Jesus’ brothers and “certain women” were also among the group. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown states: “… the number … about an hundred and twenty—Many, therefore, of the ‘five hundred brethren’ who saw their risen Lord ‘at once’ (1Co 15:6), must have remained in Galilee.” I believe that there are clues in the biblical narrative in the weeks leading up to the upper room experience and in the days immediately following that can give us not only a glimpse into what actually took place in that room but provide a template for the future of our church today. Answer: The events that occurred in the “upper room,” also known as the “Cenacle,” are described in Matthew 26:1–29, Mark 14:12–25, Luke 22:7–20, and John 13:1–38. What has the five hundred who witnessed Christ's ascension to do with what happened in the upper room? The teaching is so ubiquitous that it is almost impossible to read Acts 2 without picturing such an ‘upper ro… Because men and women prayed in the upper room. ( Acts 2:1 ) By the end of that day, baptized members of that congregation numbered into the thousands. Have you ever wondered what went on in the place we refer to as “the upper room”? (13) They went up into an upper room, where abode . Wait a minute. Furthermore, if the majority of the 500 were Galileans, it would not be feasible for most of them to return to Jerusalem with the Eleven. “ 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. And Acts 1:13 says” when they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were STAYING, and it continues to say all the disciples 11 of them were in the upper room BUT same Acts 1, in verse 15 it says” At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the Brethren a gathering of about 120 persons. Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high. The gospels, in giving the names of women who witnessed Jesus death and his burial in Joseph’s tomb, specifically mention the fact that these women “had followed him from Galilee.” (Luke 23:49, 55). His followers were assured of the Spirit’s presence and guidance as they continued their study of scripture together and prepared to publically witness for him. (Acts 1:22) They were an elite group. Jesus knowing his friends would run when the chips were down, had said to the twelve,  “You will all become deserters.” (Mark 14:27) and later Mark confirms his prophecy by saying, “All of them deserted him and fled.” (Mark 14:50)  The disciple John is the only man listed by name as being present at the cross. When Jesus ascended into heaven He instructed his disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they should receive power from on high. Both men AND women were recipients of the Holy Spirit as a pre-Pentecostal gift. One classic example of this phenomenon is the tradition that places the receiving of the Spirit on Pentecost (Shavu’ot) in the ‘upper room’ of Acts chapter 1. The magnitude of the task at hand and the complexity of the systems of injustice in … But after this is done there is still time left, during the ten days, till the day of Pentecost. 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the … Such close quarters did not pose any problem, for they were accustomed to Jewish inns, where travelers crowded together without privacy. (Deut 19:15;  Matt 18:16)  While the chosen “12” were with Jesus from the beginning, where were they during the final events of his life? I could take you through each gospel and show you that after John said this, after John's baptism, is when Jesus called the 12 disciples, because Jesus Himself came and was baptized. (Acts 1: 8; Luke 24:48). If it was the same room as in the Gospels, then the house may have been in a wealthy area directly south of the Temple near where the chief priests lived. We then read that the apostles returned to Jerusalem and went to the upper room where the apostles dwelt (verses 12-13). Jesus had just given them their marching orders; their first mission would be to Jerusalem. During the Upper Room meeting on the day of Pentecost, the assembled were called upon to vote for a replacement disciple for Judas, the man who betrayed Christ, leading to his crucifixion. 8-Bit Oinkers: These Tech-Savvy Pigs Are Mastering Video Games, How to Estimate What Home Payment Amount Fits Your Budget, Mission to Mars: Everything You Need to Know About Exploration of the Red Planet. For the gospel story to be told in its entirety, the witness of “certain women” must be believed. The Upper Room Prayer Meeting. In total, there were approximately 120 people in Jerusalem with the apostles. At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty … Something to think about: To our five senses life is literal, and many of us read the Bible that way, too. Where were the other 380 people? What Is the Market Volatility Index, and How Does It Impact Your Investments? Jesus said to them, “everything written about me in Scripture must be fulfilled.”   You all have seen the fulfillment of Scripture; these things have happened before your very eyes. After God saw how sinful and dedicated to evil man had become after the garden of Eden, he determined a one hundred and twenty year period would be given for repentance and then the flood waterswould come (Genesis 6:1 - 3). This breath of the Spirit was reminiscent of the comfort God provided the discouraged captives in Babylon who said, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost.”  At that time God called forth his Spirit from the four winds and breathed upon them saying, “I will put my spirit within you and you shall live.” (Ezekiel 37:11,14)   Now it was the crestfallen disciples who grieved, “We believed he would be the one who would deliver Israel.” (Luke 24:21) It is Jesus himself who breathes on them, imparting life and hope. by Lawrence Fox In those days, Peter stood up among the brothers - a group numbering a hundred and twenty... (Acts of the Apostles 1:15). All About Bunnies: 10+ Facts About Rabbits. This passage is a completely different thought and a completely different day than the previous chapter. “13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.” (Acts 1:13) After eating some fish and allowing them to touch him, he again said to them, “Peace be with you.”  Then, according to John’s gospel, Jesus “breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ ” (John 20:20,21). Jesus and his disciples accounted for a dozen with the rest being believers. When the Egyptians heard about th… During these last hours that Jesus spent with His beloved friends, He ate with them, instituted the New Covenant in His blood, gave them last-minute instructions and encouragement, and prayed His “high priestly prayer” over them. © 2020 Spectrum Magazine. In total, there were approximately 120 people in Jerusalem with the apostles. At this meeting one is selected in the place of Judas, Acts 1:26, there were 120 people present at that meeting, and witnessed the selection of one in the place of Judas. Paul considers himself to have been “sent by Christ” and assumes this title. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary, James’ mother, whom Luke documents as being at the cross and who later told the disciples about the empty tomb. Most authorities claim the disciples were assembled in “the upper room” in Jerusalem. "Cenacle" on upper floor of David's Tomb Compound, Mount Zion The Cenacle (from Latin cēnāculum "dining room"), also known as the Upper Room (from Koine Greek anagaion and hyperōion, both meaning "upper room"), is a room in the David's Tomb compound in Jerusalem, traditionally held to be the site of the Last Supper.It went on to become first Christian church according to Catholics. Where were the other 380 people? How Many People Were in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. There is simply no indication in the text that only males prayed as the 120 disciples were gathered in … Following Jesus’ ascension, this group of 120 persons returned to the upper room. The Bible indicates that on the Day of Pentecost, the group had grown to about 120 believers, all gathered in the Upper Room where Jesus had eaten the Last Supper. This might also explain why only 120 believers were present in the upper room at Jerusalem. This feast celebrated the end of the grain harvest, and it occurred seven weeks after Passover. Furthermore, if the majority of the 500 were Galileans, it would not be feasible for most of them to return to Jerusalem with the Eleven. Poor lighting and modifications of the room over the centuries have masked the original appearance of the room. The original Upper Room of the Last Supper was destroyed in 70AD when the city of Jeursalem was besieged and conquered by the Roman army, led by the future Emperor Titus, with Tiberius Julius Alexander as his second-in-command. Because this was about 50 days after Passover, the Greeks called it Pentecost. The first mention of having an upper room was significant as there was an upper room in the Temple of God where David instructed his son Solomon as “David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, th… Obviously they were affected, and I think it’s safe to say that these eyewitnesses to the resurrection were believers. Acts 1:14, "These all were continuing steadfastly one minded in prayer with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." The 120 men counted as present in the Upper Room is believed to have accounted for the 70 evangelists recognized by Christ. In that room, they apparently met with the other disciples, including the women, and prayed (verse 14). And anyways in the upper room, Christ never appeared to the 120 Jews who were present. The Greek noun has the article. The word used in Acts differs from the word used in Luke, as in Acts the language suggests that the room or upper floor had been modified or converted. (Luke 24:10) Matthew adds the mother of the sons of Zebedee to the list, but does not give her name. ( Matthew 27:56)   Mark adds Joses and Salome and the gospel of John identifies one of the Mary’s as being the wife of Peter. Some of them did not believe according to Matthew, so they would not have come. Suddenly, “Jesus himself stood among them and said to them. All Rights Reserved. The 120 individuals gathered in the upper room prior to Pentecost appear to have been comprised of those who had “followed from the beginning “, those who had been eye witnesses to Jesus’ death and had subsequently witnessed the risen Lord. “Peace be with you,” Jesus said as he greeted the frightened men and women locked behind closed doors on Sunday evening. Both Jewish law and the teachings of Jesus indicate that an occurrence could only be established as valid by the testimony of two or more eye-witnesses. When those disciples noticed how many made their way to the UPPER ROOM they only counted 120 out of the 500 that were there when Jesus gave the COMMAND to stay until they were empowered with the Holy Spirit. Notice – "It was on the day of Pentecost that the holy spirit was poured out by Jesus Christ on the group of about 120 disciples in the upper room at Jerusalem..." (Insight On the Scriptures, Volume 2, page 599). The Greek word ”apostello” means to send out as on a mission. According to the Bible, some of the female followers of Jesus and his mother were also present. Acts 1 identifies 15 of the 120 gathered believers by name. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These 120 received their gift of the Holy Ghost in the upper room, but, I believe, those hearing them speak were on the streets. The disciples numbered Further, although the disciples and women were not wealthy, we know that the room they were in at Pentecost could hold about 120 people (Acts 1:16). Scripture states that the Israelites who left Egypt had 600,000 men (Exodus 12:37). The 120 individuals gathered in the upper room prior to Pentecost appear to have been comprised of those who had “followed from the beginning “,  those who had been eye witnesses to Jesus’ death and had subsequently witnessed the risen Lord. 120 in the upper room is correct. If it was the same room as in the Gospels, then the house may have been in a wealthy area directly south of the Temple near where the chief priests lived. Subscribe to the Spectrum Magazine newsletter for email updates! Prior to the Passover celebration, Jesus had directed Peter and John to obtain “a large room upstairs, already furnished.”  (Luke 22: 12)  Previously, the group had stayed in Bethany, a short distance from Jerusalem. 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. But now following the Passover meal and the arrest of Jesus in the garden, it appears his followers remained in the city and elected to make this room their headquarters. The Gathered Believers. These 120 were Galileans without homes or friends in Jerusalem. We have always heard how the disciples and believers were crowded together in the ‘upper room’ on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon them. The women present in the upper room were those who had been with Jesus from the beginning of his public ministry, they had been witnesses of his miracles and teachings and had been eye witnesses to his death and post resurrection appearances. Further, although the disciples and women were not wealthy, we know that the room they were in at Pentecost could hold about 120 people (Acts 1:16). Acts 1:15. I believe, if God calls you to minister in Mexico, then the foreign language you would get would be Spanish. The meaning of the number 120 is seen in its Exodus role when Israel left Egyptian bondage. These commandments were given to the apostles. They were called in Matthew 4. In the 1 st century, the upper rooms of Christians in Jerusalem and the rest of the Roman Empire became some of the first “churches” or gathering places for the Church due to the lack of any actual buildings designated for that specific purpose, and the convenient architectural design that allowed many people to gather in one large room, such as the house of Mary in Jerusalem which was large enough … An “apostelos” is one who is sent. I believe, if God calls you to minister in Mexico, then the foreign language you would get would be Spanish. (Acts 1:22) They were an elite group. There were 11 of the original 12 disciples, Justus, Matthias, and Mary, Jesus’ mother. According to the book of Acts, this house, the residence of Mary the mother of John Mark, had a large upper room that could accommodate up to 120 people (Acts 1:13-15, 12:12). I hope one day to have the experience of being in the Upper Room. Upper Room is in the southwest corner of Jerusalem. As a group of 120 were praying in an upper room in Jerusalem fifty days after his death, the Holy Spirit descended upon them with the sound of a great wind and with tongues of fire that settled upon each one of them. Thus many of the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion are known today because of the witness of “certain women.”, Mark records that when Jesus first appeared to the eleven following his resurrection, “he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness BECAUSE they had not believed those (the women) who saw him after he had risen.” (Mark 16:14)   When the Emmaus disciples told Jesus that some of them had checked out the women’s story but were not convinced, Jesus’ incredulously replied, “Oh, how foolish you are!” (Luke 24:25). According to the record in Acts, this room was “upstairs where they were staying,” (Acts 1:13) indicating that the group had already made this location a recognized meeting place. Finding the disciples “and their companions gathered together” in the upper room, they began to share their experience of meeting the risen Christ. So, many people say, well, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was only for the 12 apostles, or for the 120 in the upper room. Wo! Earlier the two disciples, presumably a married couple, returning from Emmaus knew exactly where to find the group after their encounter with the risen Lord. Paul also includes Andronicus and Julia among the apostles. 70 desciples. Some believe that the disciples may have actually used the Upper Room as living quarters while they were in Jerusalem: 13 When they had entered the city , they went up to the upper room where they were staying ; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of … That location, that name, has always held a sort of mystique about it. 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