This Sunday is Pentecost, remembered this weekend by some churches. Christians associate Pentecost with Acts 2 and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I want to explore a few aspects of it, starting by focusing on its location.
Below is a picture of the Cenacle, a Crusader-era structure built over the site believed by some to be the “Upper Room” where Jesus held his last Passover, the Last Supper. Most tourists are told that this is the location where the events of Acts 2:1-4 and the outpouring of God’s Spirit occurred.
But who cares where the outpouring of the Spirit happened – it’s only the event that is important, right? While the event is certainly important, the location of an event in the Bible often infuses it with meaning as well.
The Upper Room or the Temple?
Traditionally, many Christians assume Pentecost occurred in the Upper Room, based on Acts 1:13. However, Acts 2 clearly starts on a new day, “When the day of Pentecost arrived….” A change in location is certainly possible between these chapters.
Pentecost is a one-day Biblical festival that required Jewish males to come to Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16). Celebrated at the temple, it’s logical that the Jewish followers of Jesus would be in the temple courtyard that day. The main times of worship, prayer, and daily sacrifices were at 9 am and 3 pm. Peter refers to the time of the Spirit’s moving as 9 am (Acts 2:15), the same time as the morning service.
Acts 2:2 says that the sound of a rushing wind filled the entire “house” where they sat. Some think this means the house with the Upper Room. However, the Hebrew Bible always calls the temple the “house of God.” Either is possible based on this word.
It is clear that a multitude hears the sound of many tongues and Peter preaches to 3000; there’s no argument that the rest of Acts 2 takes place in a large location at the temple. Therefore, it makes more sense that the Holy Spirit came upon the believers while worshipping already at the temple, rather than in a room a few blocks away and only later moving to the temple. There is no mention in Acts 2 of a transition in location.
God’s indwelling Spirit
So where does this interpretation come from? The earliest mention of the Spirit’s outpouring at the Upper Room goes back to the 4th century. By that time, the church had become mostly Gentile. Since the early church separated itself from its Jewish roots, I wonder if they did not want to associate the coming of the Spirit with God’s temple on Mount Zion.
Why does it matter that God poured out his Spirit at the temple? God had promised to dwell among the people at the tabernacle and then the temple. Linking the outpouring of the Spirit with the temple continues this theme of God wanting to dwell not only with us but within us.
Praise God for his indwelling presence! May he guide you today.