The Jewish Temple is Where the Holy Spirit Descended

Pentecost is a Jewish holiday called Shavuot meaning “weeks” in Hebrew.

Acts 2:1 says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” The word Pentecost is Greek meaning “50”. “Fully come” is referring to how the day of Shavuot is calculated. It is 7 weeks plus one day or 50 days after Passover. [In 2016, it Shavuot is celebrated on June 12.]

Acts 2:2 says, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” In Acts one, 120 disciples including the apostles were all together in the upper room. Knowing the size of rooms in Jerusalem means that with 120 people, the upper room was very crowded. But in Acts 2, after the Holy Spirit descends, there are 3,000 souls added to the assembly. Three thousand people would not fit into the upper room to hear Peter’s sermon. Maybe they moved out into the streets. But do you believe that everyone that heard Peter’s sermon accepted Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)? I believe there were more than 10,000 people who heard this message when 3, 000 were saved. There is no street in ancient Jerusalem big enough for even 3,000.

Luke, the author of the book of Acts, gives us the clue where the disciples gathered at Pentecost. Luke 24:51-53 says, “And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He [Yeshua] was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.” After the ascension of Jesus the 120 Galileans were expecting a blessing from GOD. They were excited about the promise of the Holy Spirit which would give them power to be witnesses. They “were continually in the temple, praising and blessing GOD.”

The Temple Mount was crowded with pilgrims when Peter gave his special sermon. Solomon’s Porch was the “house where they were sitting” which is located on the south end of the Temple Mount. It was a huge open building (303 yards or more than 3 football fields long and 100 yards wide) with giant columns holding up the roof. It gave shelter from the heat and the sun. It was here Peter could preach to over 10,000 people. Solomon’s Porch could hold 30,000 to 50,000 people.

Acts 2:3 says, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The 120 Galileans, when filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak in foreign languages that they had never studied or learned.

Acts 2:5 says, “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” These devout men “dwelling in Jerusalem” were temporarily dwelling in Jerusalem because they were from “every nation under heaven.” On Shavuot, Jewish men were to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the wheat harvest. Prosperous Jewish wheat farmers came from 16 different countries to bring their tithe to the Great Temple in Jerusalem. (Only 305 of the Jewish people returned to Israel under Ezra and Nehemiah.) They were obedient to the LORD in coming to Jerusalem to bring their tithes. Their hearts were prepared by the LORD.

Acts 2:6 “Now when this was noised abroad, (all round the temple mount) 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 Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? The wheat farmers were amazed because the Galileans could speak in 16 different languages. Then the Scripture names the 16 countries of the Jewish wheat farmers. The farmers proclaimed, “We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

In Acts 2:46 the Jewish temple is the location where the believers met many times after the 3000 were saved. It says, And they, continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their food with gladness and singleness of heart. Since discipleship of the 3000 took place in the Temple it stands to reason that the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples here also. Therefore the Church began on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Acts 2:47 says, “Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

The new believers continued steadfast learning from the apostles, the doctrine of the kingdom as taught by Yeshua. It was like a large Bible conference. The new believers wanted to learn all they could about Yeshua. There was excitement and enthusiasm.

They had found the Messiah and He had changed their life. The presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives gave them power and confidence to live for Yeshua and proclaim His Gospel. I like to call this “The Shavuot Bible Conference”. The new believers did not want to leave. They began to sell their possessions in order to help each other stay in Jerusalem and participate in the conference. They realized that they needed to be grounded in the faith. They continued to meet in Jerusalem in the Temple. The conference activities included: 1. Teaching doctrine; 2. Fellowship;  3. Breaking of bread; $. Prayer; 5. Wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

This was something very unique, a new togetherness; they were in one accord.  They had all things common. They ate together in small groups. They stayed together in houses or temporary dwellings. The cost for shelter and food was paid from the common budget. Other needs began to develop as the people stayed longer for the conference. They all knew it was necessary to stay in Jerusalem to learn about Messiah Yeshua and to grow spiritually, They did all that they could to stay together. They continued to sell their possessions to cover the cost of the Shavuot Bible Conference. There were some Jewish pilgrims who had possessions in Israel that they could sell to finance the conference. There was great joy in sharing with each other. Christianity started in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. This is a good place to visit.