There are two different camps in Christendom when it comes to where the events of Pentecost transpired. Some say the upper room and others the temple. The fact is, there is no verse that explicitly says it took place in either one.
Acts 2:1,
All we know from this verse is that they were, “in one place.” It doesn’t say what that one place was. However, by looking at both the near and remote context, we can ascertain where the Apostles and disciples were on that great day of Pentecost.
Those who favor the upper room usually cite Acts 1:13 which took place right after Jesus ascended into the clouds and 10 days before Pentecost.
Acts 1:13,
While a case could be made for using this verse to say Pentecost took place in the upper room, it is not a very strong case. While true they did return to the upper room after Jesus ascended, it in no way suggests they never left the upper room for the next 10 days. If I said, “Mary and Bob went home after the party” it is highly unlikely anyone would take that to mean Mary and Bob spent the rest of their lives ensconced inside their house.
In fact, there is a section in Luke that plainly says the disciples did in fact spend a fair amount of time outside of the upper room.
Luke 24:51-53,
Verse 53 says they were continually in the temple. Now that doesn’t mean they spent 100% of their time in the temple. One of the definitions in Merriam Webster of “continual” is: “in a constantly repeated manner : over and over.” For example, I continually study the scriptures every day. I wouldn’t think anyone would take that to suggest to that I spend 7/24 in study. Of course not! It simply means I study them on a regular basis. The disciples did leave the upper room and go to the temple on a regular basis. But exactly when did they go to the temple? To answer that it would help to understand when anyone went to the temple.
There were several times a pious jew would go to the temple. Firstly, there were two hours of prayer every day, one at 9 AM and another at 3 PM.
Acts 2:15,
The “third hour” corresponds to our 9 AM. Apparently, unlike in today's world, it was unthinkable to be drunk in the early morning!
Acts 3:1,
The “ninth hour” corresponds to our 3 PM.
Given that the disciples were expecting the imminent return of Jesus (Acts 1:6 shows that Jesus’ return and establishment of the promised kingdom was of great concern to them), I think it fair to say they were being about as pious a Jew as pious gets. They did not want to be found with no oil in their lamps when the master returned. If any Jew would be in the temple at the hour of prayer, it would be the disciples.
But this particular day was even bigger than the regular daily hour of prayer. It was Pentecost, one of only three days the Jews were required to appear in the temple every year.
Deut 16:16,
The feast of weeks is the same as the day of Pentecost, both took place 50 days after the feast of first fruits, which is the day Jesus rose from the dead. He is called the first fruits in 1 Corinthians 15:20.
So while Acts 2:1 does not explicitly say where the “one place” was, in light of the above, it is highly unlikely that the disciples would have been anywhere but the temple when they received the first ever outpointing of holy spirit, power from on high, as Jesus called it in Luke 24:49. It is virtually unthinkable that they would have been anywhere but the temple for this most auspicious event.
For much of the Old Testament, God dwelt in the holy of hollies, the innermost sanctum of the temple. When the people wanted to commune with God they would go to the temple. How appropriate that God would give the first outpointing of holy spirit at the very place where He dwelt. But it’s even better; how appropriate would it be for God on this day to leave His dwelling place of brick and stone in order to live in the hearts of those He calls sons and daughters? Colossians 1:27 tells us that Christ wells within us and God is in Christ (2 Cor 5:19). God’s new dwelling place is now in the very heart of each believer. There is nothing that compares to the greatness of God and His plan of redemption, the logos of John 1:1. It is without parallel in all the annals of human history!
Acts 2:1,
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
All we know from this verse is that they were, “in one place.” It doesn’t say what that one place was. However, by looking at both the near and remote context, we can ascertain where the Apostles and disciples were on that great day of Pentecost.
Those who favor the upper room usually cite Acts 1:13 which took place right after Jesus ascended into the clouds and 10 days before Pentecost.
Acts 1:13,
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.
While a case could be made for using this verse to say Pentecost took place in the upper room, it is not a very strong case. While true they did return to the upper room after Jesus ascended, it in no way suggests they never left the upper room for the next 10 days. If I said, “Mary and Bob went home after the party” it is highly unlikely anyone would take that to mean Mary and Bob spent the rest of their lives ensconced inside their house.
In fact, there is a section in Luke that plainly says the disciples did in fact spend a fair amount of time outside of the upper room.
Luke 24:51-53,
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Verse 53 says they were continually in the temple. Now that doesn’t mean they spent 100% of their time in the temple. One of the definitions in Merriam Webster of “continual” is: “in a constantly repeated manner : over and over.” For example, I continually study the scriptures every day. I wouldn’t think anyone would take that to suggest to that I spend 7/24 in study. Of course not! It simply means I study them on a regular basis. The disciples did leave the upper room and go to the temple on a regular basis. But exactly when did they go to the temple? To answer that it would help to understand when anyone went to the temple.
There were several times a pious jew would go to the temple. Firstly, there were two hours of prayer every day, one at 9 AM and another at 3 PM.
Acts 2:15,
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day.
The “third hour” corresponds to our 9 AM. Apparently, unlike in today's world, it was unthinkable to be drunk in the early morning!
Acts 3:1,
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour].
The “ninth hour” corresponds to our 3 PM.
Given that the disciples were expecting the imminent return of Jesus (Acts 1:6 shows that Jesus’ return and establishment of the promised kingdom was of great concern to them), I think it fair to say they were being about as pious a Jew as pious gets. They did not want to be found with no oil in their lamps when the master returned. If any Jew would be in the temple at the hour of prayer, it would be the disciples.
But this particular day was even bigger than the regular daily hour of prayer. It was Pentecost, one of only three days the Jews were required to appear in the temple every year.
Deut 16:16,
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
The feast of weeks is the same as the day of Pentecost, both took place 50 days after the feast of first fruits, which is the day Jesus rose from the dead. He is called the first fruits in 1 Corinthians 15:20.
So while Acts 2:1 does not explicitly say where the “one place” was, in light of the above, it is highly unlikely that the disciples would have been anywhere but the temple when they received the first ever outpointing of holy spirit, power from on high, as Jesus called it in Luke 24:49. It is virtually unthinkable that they would have been anywhere but the temple for this most auspicious event.
For much of the Old Testament, God dwelt in the holy of hollies, the innermost sanctum of the temple. When the people wanted to commune with God they would go to the temple. How appropriate that God would give the first outpointing of holy spirit at the very place where He dwelt. But it’s even better; how appropriate would it be for God on this day to leave His dwelling place of brick and stone in order to live in the hearts of those He calls sons and daughters? Colossians 1:27 tells us that Christ wells within us and God is in Christ (2 Cor 5:19). God’s new dwelling place is now in the very heart of each believer. There is nothing that compares to the greatness of God and His plan of redemption, the logos of John 1:1. It is without parallel in all the annals of human history!
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