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Post by alon on Jun 2, 2017 14:12:30 GMT -8
The “Upper Room”
Christian tradition places the receiving of the Spirit on Shavu’ot, or Pentecost in Christian vernacular in the ‘upper room’ of Acts chapter 1. 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. It is true that the disciples met together in an upper room somewhere in Jerusalem in Acts 1:13. They had assembled to pray on the day of the Ascension:
Acts 1:12-14 (ESV) Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, 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 James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
That was ten days prior to Shavu’ot. However it does not say that the assembly of disciples at “Pentecost” took place in the upper room:
Acts 2:1 (ESV) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.”
We are told “they were all together in one place.” It is highly unlikely they would be in an ‘upper room’ large enough to hold the Disciples and the thousands of Shavu’ot pilgrims who witnessed the “Pentecost” event.
Acts 2 (ESV) 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
There is no indication in Acts 2 that they were still in the upper room on Shavu’ot. Ten days had passed since the Disciples had entered the upper room in Acts 1:13. They were more likely in the Temple.
Deuteronomy 16:9-11a,c,12 (ESV) 9 “You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain. 10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, … at the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name dwell there. 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
This was one of the Shalosh Regalim when every Jewish male had to be at the Temple in Yerushalayim. Luke also was clear the disciples met every day in the Temple anyhow to worship:
Luke 24:52-53 (ESV) And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
They were there every day, so absolutely they would be in the Temple on one of the shalosh regalim! Furthermore we see the outpouring of the Ruach at Shavu’ot occurred at the time of morning prayers:
Acts 2:15 (ESV) For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day [9:00 AM].
We know that Simon Peter and John son of Zebedee kept the times of prayer in the Temple courts:
Acts 3:1 (ESV) Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour [3:00 PM].
The believers were told to await the promise in Jerusalem. The Temple would be the most likely place for them to “await the promise.” Also note that Peter preached to a vast multitude of Jews from all over the world. The only place such a large number of Jews would be found assembled on Shavu’ot would be in the Temple.
Even more compelling is that three thousand people were immersed that day when they accepted Yeshua as HaMoshiach. The only place so many men could undergo tevilah (ritual immersion) in one day was in the Temple mikva’ot (baptismals). The Temple was equipped to handle mass immersions. They had to accommodate the throngs of thousands who required tevilah for ritual purification before entering the Temple each feast day.
Acts 2:2 (ESV) And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Here the Greek word oikos, translated ‘house,’ can also be translated as “temple.” In the Scriptures, the term “The House” is a common name for the Temple in Jerusalem. For example: Exodus 23:19, 34:26; Joshua 6:24; Judges 18:31; Psalm 27:4; Mark 11:17; and 1 Peter 2:5. In Luke 2:49 Yeshua alludes to the Temple as His Father’s House.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Strong's Number: g3624 Greek: oikos House: denotes (a) "a house, a dwelling," e.g., Mat 9:6, 7; 11:8; it is used of the Tabernacle, as the House of God, Mat 12:4, and the Temple similarly, e.g., Mat 21:13; Luk 11:51, AV, "temple," RV, "sanctuary;" Jhn 2:16, 17; called by the Lord "your house" in Mat 23:38; Luk 13:35 (some take this as the city of Jerusalem); metaphorically of Israel as God's house, Hbr 3:2, 5, where "his house" is not Moses', but God's; of believers, similarly, ver. 6, where Christ is spoken of as "over God's House" (the word "own" is rightly omitted in the RV); Hbr 10:21; 1Pe 2:5; 4:17; of the body, Mat 12:44; Luk 11:24;
So it would seem reasonable to conclude that the ‘one place’ where the believers had gathered together in one accord was in one of the Temple courts. In the outer Temple courts, the men and women could freely assemble. There the Eastern Gates opened, and there the promise of Messiah’s return was anticipated. It was there that Ezekiel had prophesied the Holy Spirit would enter the Temple.
Solomon’s Colonnade seems to have become an important, or at least common meeting place for these believers:
Acts 3:11 (ESV) While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.
Acts 5:12 (ESV) Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.
Mainstream Christian teachings tend to give the Temple short shrift; instead trying to dissociate these early believers from anything Jewish. Yet they were not only Jews, but observant Jews at that! And note that events in those scriptures given were after they received the Ruach HaKodesh/ the Holy Spirit! In fact, the Book of Acts shows the spiritual life of the early Nots’rim (Nazarenes- the sect Rav Sh’ul became the “ringleader” of, Acts 24:5) was centered on the Temple. Twice at least Rav Sh’ul (Paul) made sacrifices at the Temple after his conversion. These were the times he was involved in the Nazarene vow; a thing which required several sacrifices.
In order to fully understand scripture and what was happening, the Church needs to get back to its’ Hebraic Roots. Look at things from a Jewish perspective. Doing this will clear up a lot of false doctrine as well as give people a clearer view of what was happening in scripture.
Christian tradition places the receiving of the Spirit on Shavu’ot, or Pentecost in Christian vernacular in the ‘upper room’ of Acts chapter 1. 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. It is true that the disciples met together in an upper room somewhere in Jerusalem in Acts 1:13. They had assembled to pray on the day of the Ascension:
Acts 1:12-14 (ESV) Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, 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 James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
That was ten days prior to Shavu’ot. However it does not say that the assembly of disciples at “Pentecost” took place in the upper room:
Acts 2:1 (ESV) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.”
We are told “they were all together in one place.” It is highly unlikely they would be in an ‘upper room’ large enough to hold the Disciples and the thousands of Shavu’ot pilgrims who witnessed the “Pentecost” event.
Acts 2 (ESV) 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
There is no indication in Acts 2 that they were still in the upper room on Shavu’ot. Ten days had passed since the Disciples had entered the upper room in Acts 1:13. They were more likely in the Temple.
Deuteronomy 16:9-11a,c,12 (ESV) 9 “You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain. 10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, … at the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name dwell there. 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
This was one of the Shalosh Regalim when every Jewish male had to be at the Temple in Yerushalayim. Luke also was clear the disciples met every day in the Temple anyhow to worship:
Luke 24:52-53 (ESV) And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
They were there every day, so absolutely they would be in the Temple on one of the shalosh regalim! Furthermore we see the outpouring of the Ruach at Shavu’ot occurred at the time of morning prayers:
Acts 2:15 (ESV) For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day [9:00 AM].
We know that Simon Peter and John son of Zebedee kept the times of prayer in the Temple courts:
Acts 3:1 (ESV) Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour [3:00 PM].
The believers were told to await the promise in Jerusalem. The Temple would be the most likely place for them to “await the promise.” Also note that Peter preached to a vast multitude of Jews from all over the world. The only place such a large number of Jews would be found assembled on Shavu’ot would be in the Temple.
Even more compelling is that three thousand people were immersed that day when they accepted Yeshua as HaMoshiach. The only place so many men could undergo tevilah (ritual immersion) in one day was in the Temple mikva’ot (baptismals). The Temple was equipped to handle mass immersions. They had to accommodate the throngs of thousands who required tevilah for ritual purification before entering the Temple each feast day.
Acts 2:2 (ESV) And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Here the Greek word oikos, translated ‘house,’ can also be translated as “temple.” In the Scriptures, the term “The House” is a common name for the Temple in Jerusalem. For example: Exodus 23:19, 34:26; Joshua 6:24; Judges 18:31; Psalm 27:4; Mark 11:17; and 1 Peter 2:5. In Luke 2:49 Yeshua alludes to the Temple as His Father’s House.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Strong's Number: g3624 Greek: oikos House: denotes (a) "a house, a dwelling," e.g., Mat 9:6, 7; 11:8; it is used of the Tabernacle, as the House of God, Mat 12:4, and the Temple similarly, e.g., Mat 21:13; Luk 11:51, AV, "temple," RV, "sanctuary;" Jhn 2:16, 17; called by the Lord "your house" in Mat 23:38; Luk 13:35 (some take this as the city of Jerusalem); metaphorically of Israel as God's house, Hbr 3:2, 5, where "his house" is not Moses', but God's; of believers, similarly, ver. 6, where Christ is spoken of as "over God's House" (the word "own" is rightly omitted in the RV); Hbr 10:21; 1Pe 2:5; 4:17; of the body, Mat 12:44; Luk 11:24;
So it would seem reasonable to conclude that the ‘one place’ where the believers had gathered together in one accord was in one of the Temple courts. In the outer Temple courts, the men and women could freely assemble. There the Eastern Gates opened, and there the promise of Messiah’s return was anticipated. It was there that Ezekiel had prophesied the Holy Spirit would enter the Temple.
Solomon’s Colonnade seems to have become an important, or at least common meeting place for these believers:
Acts 3:11 (ESV) While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.
Acts 5:12 (ESV) Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.
Mainstream Christian teachings tend to give the Temple short shrift; instead trying to dissociate these early believers from anything Jewish. Yet they were not only Jews, but observant Jews at that! And note that events in those scriptures given were after they received the Ruach HaKodesh/ the Holy Spirit! In fact, the Book of Acts shows the spiritual life of the early Nots’rim (Nazarenes- the sect Rav Sh’ul became the “ringleader” of, Acts 24:5) was centered on the Temple. Twice at least Rav Sh’ul (Paul) made sacrifices at the Temple after his conversion. These were the times he was involved in the Nazarene vow; a thing which required several sacrifices.
In order to fully understand scripture and what was happening, the Church needs to get back to its’ Hebraic Roots. Look at things from a Jewish perspective. Doing this will clear up a lot of false doctrine as well as give people a clearer view of what was happening in scripture.
