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Were there 120 people in an upper room?

Who among us has not been told that there were 120 people in an upper room on the day of Pentecost? Do you notice that he doesn’t say there were 120 people in an upper room anywhere in Acts chapter two?

This passage is a completely different thought and a completely different day than the previous chapter.
The disciples counted were around 120 to choose Matthias as the replacement disciple for Judas. (Acts 1:15-26) The number required to convene a Jewish council is 120. This may account for the number of men.

Where were they on the day of Pentecost? Acts chapter two begins with a completely new thought and a completely different day than chapter one! He says: “When the day of Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all with one accord in one place.” He does not say that there were 120 in an upper room.

Why would the Jews who traveled to Jerusalem from great distances (many with different languages) be gathered in an “upper room” on the special day of Pentecost? Wouldn’t they be in the Jewish Temple?

Then a rushing strong wind filled the entire house. The same Greek word “oikos” translated as “house” in (Acts 2:2), was actually translated as “Temple” in (Luke 11:51).

Did the 3,000 people baptized that day also fit in the upper room? But wait, it was over 3000 people because some of them didn’t receive the Word that day. (Acts 2:41)

A place large enough to hold the 3,000 or more people present that day was the Jewish Temple. In addition to the huge hall, there were side rooms that could hold thousands of people. There were ceremonial washing pools that could also be used for baptisms.

This story from the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two ends by talking about how this group met in the Temple from day to day. (Acts 2:46) Then Acts chapter three begins with them in the Temple again. Being in the Jewish Temple for the special Jewish day of Pentecost is quite likely for Jewish disciples!

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