Acts 1:13
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
After Jesus was carried up into heaven from Olivet while blessing His disciples, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy and went up into an upper room that was their own common abode in the city. The eleven who stayed there were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James, together with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers, the whole company numbering about one hundred and twenty. In obedience to Christ's command to tarry in Jerusalem until endued with power from on high, they continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, spending ten days in heart-searching, confession, repentance, and putting away differences so their lives would be permeated and directed by the Spirit. While they waited and prayed, Christ in heaven added His intercession and, having ascended on high leading captivity captive, claimed the gift of the Spirit to pour out upon them as He had promised. Their assembling for united prayer and spiritual preparation is the example for church members to assemble for prayer and spiritual help, coming in simple faith, humility, dependence, and full surrender as the condition for God to cooperate fully with His people.
Upper Room in Jerusalem
After Jesus led the disciples out to Bethany and was carried up into heaven while blessing them, with angels declaring that this same Jesus shall so come in like manner, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy from the mount called Olivet, a Sabbath-day's journey away, were continually in the temple praising and blessing God, and then went up into an upper room. Jerusalem in the days of the apostles was a great center of influence, where light from heaven was to shine in its most powerful rays upon the witnesses of His trial, rejection, crucifixion, resurrection, and forty days on earth who were to bear the gospel message. Their return and ascent to the upper chamber was obedience to Christ's last instruction to tarry in Jerusalem until endued with power from on high before beginning the work of preaching remission of sins to all nations beginning at Jerusalem.
The upper room was their own common abode in Jerusalem. On the evening of the resurrection day they were gathered there not for a religious meeting nor to honor the day as holy, but with the doors shut for fear of the Jews.
The eleven who abode there were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. They had come back to Jerusalem after the ascension and remained together there as they awaited the promised gift of the Holy Spirit and prepared for their work of proclaiming the gospel. After ten days of supplication in which they put away differences and sins, searched hearts, confessed, and drew together in holy fellowship, the Holy Ghost came upon them and Christ's promise was fulfilled.
They stayed together there with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus' brothers, with a few others, the whole company numbering about 120. Christ's brothers had once doubted Him, but through the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension had become firm in faith that He was the Son of God and promised Messiah. Mary was among the believers after having seen the Saviour in His sufferings and not in His glory. Their gathering prepared them to continue together in prayer and supplication as they awaited the promised Holy Spirit.
The verse belongs to the account of Christ's commission to His disciples, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the angels' message to the waiting disciples.
United Prayer Before Pentecost
In obedience to Christ's last instruction to tarry in Jerusalem until endued with power from on high, the eleven named in the verse — Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James — returned after the ascension and abode together in the upper room with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus' brothers, continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication as they awaited the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus had led them to Bethany and was carried up into heaven while blessing them, with angels promising that this same Jesus shall so come in like manner, they had returned to Jerusalem with great joy from Olivet and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God, and then they gathered in the upper chamber as witnesses of His trial, rejection, crucifixion, resurrection, and forty days on earth to prepare for proclaiming remission of sins to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. Christ's brothers, who had once doubted Him, were now firm in faith that He was the Son of God and promised Messiah.
They spent ten days in individual preparation, heart-searching, and self-examination before the general outpouring at Pentecost and their public work. Though men of varied talents and capabilities, they humbly prayed in unity with one purpose, repenting of sins, putting away differences and alienations, searching hearts, confessing, and drawing together in holy fellowship. Their lives had to be permeated and their actions directed by the Spirit, and after this work the Holy Ghost came upon them and Christ's promise was fulfilled.
Their days of prayer and communion in the upper chamber came after the night of communion with the Saviour, the meeting with Jesus on the mountain in Galilee, and the parting scene upon Olivet with the angels' promise, and before the power and glory of Pentecost and going forth on their mission. This order shows that divine communion comes first and then acts of power, and that communion with God must precede important work. Their time in the upper room was preparation for the mission they would undertake.
While they waited, with believing women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus' brothers joined with them so that about 120 were gathered, they filled the place left vacant by Judas. They prayed for the Lord to show which of two men was suitable, and the Spirit selected Matthias as an apostle. They arranged to fill the place Judas had left among the apostles.
They prayed with new confidence in Jesus' name, trusting His promise that asking would bring full joy, because Heaven was now their Redeemer's home and prayer was communion with Him. They trusted that Jesus, now in heaven as their Friend and advocate, heard and answered them. Their gathering was marked by joy because they trusted His promise to return and receive them to Himself, and they were to meet together and be of one mind.
During the ten days after the ascension when they remained together offering petitions for the outpouring, Christ in heaven added His intercession. The Spirit had been waiting for the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and this period of prayer was the occasion of His ascension and inauguration, a jubilee in heaven. Having ascended on high leading captivity captive, Christ now claimed the gift of the Spirit to pour it out upon His disciples, and the Spirit was given as He had promised.
Their united prayer in the upper chamber was answered with courage and boldness in speaking the truth, which made possible straight testimony that Jesus of Nazareth was approved of God by miracles and wonders and signs yet was taken and by wicked hands crucified and slain. They had come to God before Pentecost in simple faith, true humility, firm dependence, and full surrender in asking for what they needed. That way of coming is the condition for God to cooperate fully with His people and to work as the case requires.
Pattern for Present Believers
The gathering in the upper room for prayer while seeking the promised Holy Spirit is the example for church members to assemble for prayer and spiritual preparation, and for spiritual instruction and help. After the ascension the disciples came together in one place and prayed, and this shows that decisions on solemn matters require earnest prayer and the Spirit's guidance. The history in the first chapter gives lessons for setting things in order and carrying forward a special work. The history of the early church during and immediately after the day of Pentecost, including the experiences of Paul and the other apostles in the book of Acts, is to be studied carefully by those who desire to be refreshed in mind and instructed in the truth, because God's people in the present day must pass through similar experiences.
The verses give the pattern for what should be, with Mary the mother of Jesus among the believers after she had seen the Saviour in His sufferings and not in His glory. That pattern is cultivating the knowledge Christ gave about His second appearing, searching the Scriptures, getting ready while wickedness increases, and doing the work God has appointed. Their gathering is part of the proof that a mighty power is at work in the world and that heaven will cooperate with those who do the work of the Lord. In the last days this means every soul that believes present truth, whatever his country or speech, should gain an intelligent knowledge of the truths of the third angel's message in order to do an intelligent work for God among people of all languages. All who come into right relation to God, search the Scriptures, and walk humbly with God will have understanding opened and will receive power to do a work for God.