February Article - Filled with the Holy Ghose

In Acts 2:1-4, the 120 disciples were baptized by the Holy Spirit. The first question that must be brought out is not how but where. Many people believed that the disciples were in an upper room when they were baptized. But were they? In this article, we will try to find out where the 120 disciples were when they were filled with the Holy Ghost.

The Upper Room

The ‘upper room’ in the New Testament times was a higher part of a house, i.e. apartment in the third story. It was normally used as an abode (Noah Webster’s Dictionary defined it as a place of continuance; a dwelling; a habitation.) When we talk of abode we mean a small place to gather. Mark 14:15 and Luke 22:12 described a large upper room that will be prepared for Jesus and His disciples. Acts 1:13 described the upper room where the eleven disciples were to rest and it was not as large as the one prepared for Jesus! Another worthy thing to note was the Jews were very conservative people. Women have separate rooms during their resting hours with men except if they were married. Therefore, Acts 1:14 were another time and place for it involved prayer and supplication WITH the women. Another fact worth noting is the ‘upper room’ where the eleven stayed could never accommodate 120 persons. Even today, ‘upper rooms’ can not house more than 20 unless you’re one of the rich and famous, if you know what I mean.

If they were not in the upper room when they were filled with the Holy Ghost, where were they?

Continually in the Temple

Luke 24:53 states, “And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.” Acts 1:14 further states, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” The book of Luke and Acts were penned by the same author. Through his distinct writing we can say that the disciples’ prayer and supplication were held not in an upper room but in the temple. According to some scholars, the first hour in the Old and New Testament times was to sanctify the already breaking day with prayer (the first watch or three-hour cycle from 6AM to 9AM). On the third hour (9AM), the disciples were all filled by the Holy Ghost and spoke in different tongues.

                                                                          Questions and Answers:
A.     If they were in the upper room when they were filled, how could people from different nations have heard them? Acts 2:6-11 described the event; “Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”
B.     If they were in the upper room when they were filled, how could 3000 men fit in a street to listen to Peter’s testimony?

Answers: It was the time of Pentecost, “a solemn festival of the Jews, so called because it is celebrated on the fiftieth day after the sixteenth of Nisan, which was the second day of the Passover. It was called the feast of weeks, because it was celebrated seven weeks after the Passover. It was instituted to oblige the people to repair to the temple of the Lord, there to acknowledge his absolute dominion over the country, and offer him the first fruits of their harvest; also that they might call to mind and give thanks to God for the law which he had given them at Sinai on the fiftieth day from their departure from Egypt (Noah Webster’s Dictionary).” Since it was Pentecost, the disciples were obliged to go to the temple to give their praise and blessing to God. During the Pentecost, Jews from different nations come together to celebrate in the Jerusalem temple. And when the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost, the temple-goers evidently hear the different tongues uttered by the Galilean disciples. This will solve the problem of the multitude that were gathered and how they have heard the voice of Peter as he gave his testimony.

They Were Baptized

Acts 2:41 states, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Not only were the disciples the ones baptized by the Holy Spirit but all the 3000 souls that had heard the testimony of Peter and were baptized in the name of Jesus. Through this baptism, the new converts had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people (Acts 2:44-47a). And through this attitude, the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47b).