THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES - Chapter 1 - Verse 13

Verse 13. Were come in. To Jerusalem.

They went up into an upper room. The word—uperwon—here translated upper room, occurs but four times in the New Testament. Ac 9:37, "She (Dorcas) was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber," Ac 9:39; 20:8, "And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together." The room so designated was an upper chamber used for devotion; or to place the dead before burial; or occasionally for conversation, etc. Here it evidently means the place where they were assembled for devotion. Lu 24:53 says they were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. And some have supposed that the upper room here designated was one of the rooms in the temple. But there is no evidence of that; and it is not very probable. Such a room was a part of every house, especially in Jerusalem; and they probably selected one where they might be together, and yet so retired that they might be safe from the Jews.

Where abode. Where were remaining. This does not mean that this was their permanent habitation; but they remained there waiting for the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Peter, etc. All the apostles were there which Jesus had at first chosen, except Judas, Lu 6:13-16.

{a} "Peter and James" Lu 6:13-16