The Upper Room

(King David's Tomb)

 

Location

 

1. The Upper Room is in a second-story building in Jerusalem that commemorates where Jesus shared the Passover (Last Supper) with His disciples. 

 

2. It is located directly above the Tomb of David and near the Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion.

 

3. It is also called the Cenacle Room, which means “dining room” in Latin.

 

4. On the first floor of the building is King David’s Tomb. It functions as a synagogue, so a head covering for men must be worn. It is divided into three sections: (1) a small synagogue room, (2) a men’s viewing area of David’s tomb, and (3) a women’s viewing area of the tomb.

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5. The location of David's Tomb is just a memorial place as Scripture says David was buried in the City of David (1 Kings 2:10). 

 

Historical Background

 

1. This building became a synagogue church in the first century by early Christians. There is archaeological evidence of four layers of construction in this building today.

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1. Judeo-Christian Church Layer (70-132 AD).

 

​A Torah Ark niche exists with large stones.

Large stones from the walls of the Judeo-Christian Church (70-132 AD).

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Writings on the plastered walls of this church that were analyzed reveal the following information about the site: "Conquer, O Saviour, Mercy" and "Oh Jesus, that I may live."

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Eusebius (260-340 AD) describes a " Large church of Christ in Jerusalem which the Jews constructed."

 

Epiphannius (315-405) writes, "A small church of God marking the Upper Room to which the disciples returned from the Mount of Olives after the Lord had been taken up."

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2. Byzantine Layer (415 AD) with an octagonal church in front of it.

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The Church of St. Pudenziana in Rome has a mural showing this Judeo-Christian Church. 

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3. Crusader Layer (1219 AD)

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4. The present layer is from the Crusader Period.

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2. Whenever you have one thing built on top of another, it provides strong evidence that this was the authentic location of the Upper Room.

 

3. Strong archaeological evidence shows that the Upper Room is also the location of the first Christian church. After Christ rose from the dead, this place was venerated and converted into a Jewish-Christian synagogue. Evidence of this can be found in the massive stones in the Torah Ark Niche of the church on the first floor.

 

4. It was built by the first-century Jewish-Christian community of Jerusalem. Interestingly, different than all other Jewish synagogues, the Torah Ark Niche points toward Golgotha (Church of the Holy Sepulchre) and not toward the temple.

 

5. This site of the Upper Room has been the traditional place of the Last Supper since the time of Jesus. 

 

6. In the 5th century AD, the church was referred to as "Zion, Mother of all the Churches.”

 

7. The Crusaders built the Upper Room that pilgrims visit today in the 12th century as part of the Church of St. Mary of Zion. The Gothic columns seen today are from this era.

 

8. The buildings around the Upper Room are remains of a Franciscan medieval friary from around 1335.

 

9. The Upper Room was transformed into a mosque by the Ottomans in 1524, and a prayer niche is embedded on the south wall, directed toward the Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina.  

 

10. The State of Israel Ministry of the Interior currently manages the Upper Room building.

 

11. It’s very likely that the Upper Room was used for more than the Passover meal. It could also have been where Christ appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, where Matthias was appointed the apostle to replace Judas, and where the disciples stayed while waiting for Pentecost.

 

12. Some believe it’s also where Pentecost happened or began. However, the best evidence biblically and logistically points to the southern area of the Temple Mount Platform as the place where Pentecost took place. For a full explanation of why we believe this to be the case, please visit our webpage at: Temple Mount: Pentecost

 

12. It seems logical that all these events shared the same Upper Room as the man who allowed Christ to use his large room for the Passover meal was probably a follower of Christ who continued to allow the disciples to use it.

 

Places of Interest

 

1. The Upper Room First Floor​

• King David’s Tomb ~ This is just a memorial place as Scripture says David was buried in the City of David (1 Kings 2:10).

• Modern-day synagogue

• Torah Ark Niche 

• Large stones in the Torah Ark Niche of the Judeo-Christian Church

• Large stones from the walls of the Judeo-Christian Church

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2. The Upper Room Second Floor

• Crusader remains.

• Model of an olive tree symbolizing the Garden of Gethsemane, grapes symbolizing the cup of wine, and wheat symbolizing the bread.

• Sculpted a group of pelicans on a pillar in the southwest corner of the Upper Room. It shows a group of three pelicans sculpted into the stone. In this scene, a mother bird with its babies standing on her left and right are picking her heart, eating her flesh, and drinking her blood. This symbolizes Jesus and his sacrifice to his disciples at the Last Supper, as found in Matthew 26:27-28: And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

• Muslim prayer niche from the Ottoman period (1524 AD)

• Two stained glass windows on the south wall from the Ottoman Muslim period (1524 AD).

• Muslim writings on some of the walls.

• A Royal Ottoman Arabic inscription on the east wall installed by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman in 1524 AD. It narrates the conversion of the church into a mosque.

• Apse marking the spot of the 1st century Judeo-Christian Synagogue.

 

3. Temple Mount Southern Stairs

 

4. Royal Stoa

 

5. Mount Zion

 

6. Temple Mount

 

7. Zion Gate

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8. City of David

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Why Pentecost Most Likely Did Not Happen at the Upper Room

 

Many believe Pentecost occurred in or around the Upper Room. However, the best evidence shows it most likely happened on the Temple Mount. 

 

1. What does the Bible say?

 

Acts 2:1–6: When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house [structure] where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 

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2. Scripture says the coming of the Holy Spirit filled a house. It doesn’t say or mention anything about the Upper Room.

 

3. What does "house" mean in Hebrew?

 

• In many places in the Bible, the Temple is called the House of the Lord or just house.

John 2:17: The Zeal for your house will consume me.

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Matthew 21:12-13: And Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”

 

• House can also refer to just a covered area. The Royal Stoa fits this description.

On the southern end of the Temple Mount, just above the Southern Stairs, was the Royal Stoa. It was a massive public meeting place with a large roof. It would fit what the Bible says about where Pentecost happened.  

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• The Hebrew word for "house" in Acts 2:2 is "Har Ha Bait," which means "the mountain of THE HOUSE," or simply put, "the dwelling place of God." This meaning would support the idea that Pentecost most likely took place on the Temple Mount. 

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4. Three thousand were baptized after hearing Peter's message. 

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• Acts 2:41: So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

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• For 3,000 to be saved, a crowd of at least 30,000, up to 100,000 would likely have assembled.

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• The Jewish historian Josephus and others estimate that hundreds of thousands gathered in Jerusalem during the holy feasts.

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• This large multitude could not fit in or around the Upper Room.

 

5. The Upper Room could only accommodate about 150 people. The massive crowd that gathered and the 3,000 baptized could not have fit in the Upper Room or the area around it.

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• Peter addressed "All who dwelt in Jerusalem." Acts 2:14: But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 

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• Peter addressed a multitude of people. Acts 2:6: And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

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• The Upper Room was in a densely populated residential area of Jerusalem. It had narrow streets and many buildings. A multitude of people couldn't gather in this area as the narrow streets and buildings would have made this virtually impossible. 

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• Due to the narrow streets and buildings around the Upper Room, Peter could have only preached to several hundred people at best.

 

6. There was no reason for a multitude of people to be in the residential area by the Upper Room.

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• The Upper Room is a long way from the central part of Jerusalem.

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• It was not in an area of public interest.

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• The Temple Mount was the center of public activity, especially during the holy feasts.

 

7. There were many Mikvehs (baptismal pools) around the Temple Mount.

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• There are around 75 mikvehs by the Temple Mount, along with the Pools of Bethesda and the Pool of Israel, where those who were saved could be baptized.

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• There were no public mikvehs around the Upper Room area.

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• The Upper Room is located in the southwest corner of Jerusalem, over one-half mile (.83 km.) from the Temple Mount, a long distance away. Most likely, too far away for a large crowd to go to for baptisms, etc.

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8. The coming of the Holy Spirit happened at nine in the morning, which was the time of morning prayers at the Temple.

 

• The disciples regularly went to the Temple during times of prayer. Acts 2:15: For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour [9:00 am] of the day.

 

Acts 3:1: Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

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• Therefore, the apostles and disciples were most likely on the Temple Mount when Pentecost happened.

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9. The southern part of the Temple Mount would have been a natural place for Pentecost to occur, as it was the center of public activities in Jerusalem.

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• The Southern Stairs and Robinson's Arch entrance were massive and the main entrances to the Temple Mount. 

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• These entrances would be natural places for people to be gathered.

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10. The Temple Mount and Royal Stoa area could easily have handled the large crowd of 30,000 to 100,000 gathered at Pentecost.

 

11. The Temple Mount platform was the only place in Jerusalem during the time of Pentecost that could have accommodated a multitude of 30,000 to 100,000 people.

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• It was the size of 35 professional football fields, big enough to handle over 150,000 people.

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Therefore, the Temple Mount platform is the best candidate for where Pentecost happened, and most specifically, around the southern part of it by the Royal Stoa.

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The Upper Room in the Bible

 

1. Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples in the Upper Room.
Luke 22:11–13: And tell the master of the house, “The Teacher says to you, ‘Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

 

2. After Christ ascended back to heaven, the disciples went to the Upper Room, which was most likely their living quarters, while they stayed in Jerusalem. 

Acts 1:13–14: And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

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3. The Upper Room is the likely place Christ appeared to His disciples after His resurrection.
John 20:19: On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

 

4. It’s possible that the Upper Room is where Matthias was chosen to replace Judas.
Acts 1:15–16: In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

 

Acts 1:26: And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

 

5. Some believe it’s also where Pentecost happened or began. However, the best evidence biblically and logistically points to the southern area of the Temple Mount Platform as the place where Pentecost took place. For a full explanation of why we believe this to be the case, please visit our webpage at: Temple Mount: Pentecost

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The Upper Room and Passover in the Bible

 

1. The meaning of the Passover.

The Passover was a celebration the Israelites observed each year in remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt as slaves. The last miracle performed by God was the killing of the firstborn of all people and animals. He gave a command to the Israelites, and to the Egyptians as well, to kill a lamb and put its blood on the door mantles and doorpost of their houses. In so doing, God would pass over that home and save those inside. Christ's crucifixion during the Passover was a fulfillment of this covenant act. In the New Covenant, Christ is our Passover Lamb whose blood saves us from death and sin.

 

2. The Passover meal began with Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.
John 13:1–5: Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

 

3. Christ taught about true love and servanthood.
John 13:12–16: When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 

 

4. Christ instituted the New Covenant at the Passover meal.
Matthew 26:26–29: Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

 

5. The meaning of the bread.

 

• The bread represents Christ’s body which was broken and crucified for our sin.

• It speaks of the bread that was made without leaven for the rapid departure of the Israelites from Egypt.

• It also represents the Israelite’s utter dependence on God for their sustenance during their time in the desert, and beyond.

• Christ referred to Himself as the Bread of Life and the True Manna from heaven.  

• Christ now becomes our unleavened bread and sustenance.

 

6. The meaning of the cup.

 

• The cup represents the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross for the payment and forgiveness of our sins.  The blood being poured out is synonymous with Christ being crucified and shedding His blood.

• There is also wedding imagery that is used in the taking of the cup. Receiving the cup was used for confirming an Israelite marriage much in the same way our modern-day ring vows do.

• When we receive the cup, we are confirming our marriage to Christ.

 

Faith Lesson from the Upper Room

 

1. Christ gave a humbling example of true servanthood by washing the disciples’ feet. What kind of a servant am I?

 

2. Christ introduced the New Covenant at the Passover meal. Do I understand the meaning of the bread and the cup?

 

3. Is Christ my sacrificial Passover Lamb or am I separated from God and in danger of His judgment?

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