The upper room

“When they had entered the city, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, Peter, John, James, and Andrew…” (1) The place where they gathered was “the upper room.” This is the room where the “Last Supper” was held (traditionally believed to be the house of John Mark’s mother). The resurrected Jesus appeared twice in this room (John 20:19, 26). After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, this room became the headquarters for the believers. (2) The list of the 12 apostles is mentioned (same as in Luke 6:14-16). Of course, Judas Iscariot is missing from this list.

One mind to prayer

“All these were continually devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers… (a group of about 120 people was there together)” (v.14-15). (1) The number of 120 is not the total number of believers, which was more than 500. Over 500 believers had witnessed Jesus’ resurrection (1 Cor. 15:5-7). This means that more than 380 were not present at that location. Other believers were likely in Galilee or other places. (2) This is the last time Mary, the mother of Jesus, is mentioned. The believers were not praying to Mary but were praying together with her. (3) Jesus’ four brothers, who initially did not believe in Him, were also there. James became a believer after encountering the resurrected Jesus (1 Cor. 15:7) and later became the leader (overseer) of the Jerusalem church. It is likely that the other brothers also witnessed Jesus’ resurrection. They are the sons of Mary. Mary is not “the eternal virgin.” (4) The mention of “the women” is notable because it is unusual for women to be referenced in first-century documents. The women likely included are as follows: Mary Magdalene (who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection, John 20:18), Mary the mother of James and Salome (witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, Mark 16:1), Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward (Luke 8:3), Susanna (Luke 8:3), Martha and Mary (John 12:2-3), and Mary, the sister of Jesus’ mother (John 19:25), and the wives of the apostles. (5) They were one in mind, continually devoting themselves to prayer. The force that draws out united prayer and persistent prayer is the anticipation of God’s promises. Praying in attempt to move God will become painful. However, when we discover the promises in God’s words and pray with anticipation for the promises, such prayer becomes powerful prayer.