Happy Pentecost Dear Ones. As we celebrate Shavuot/Pentecost, let us take another look at where this event actually happened. What you are about to discover changes everything. It is much more powerful than you ever thought. ARE YOU READY?

Let me begin by asking you a question. Do you think that 120 people could get into a small upper room in the Old City of Jerusalem? Of course not. When we took our groups to Israel, we always went to the traditional site of the “Upper Room.” It was crowded with 50 people. Notice I said, “traditional site.”

Take a few minutes to read again Acts 2:1-4. Do you see any mention of an “upper room?’ No you do not. You do see in verse two the English word, “house.” Because of this translation, we have always been taught that the disciples were waiting for the Holy Spirit in an upper room of a house. NOT SO!

The Greek word that is translated as “house” is also translated as Temple. Now here is a Scripture you know well, “Then He [Jesus] went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, ‘It is written [Isaiah 56:7], My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of thieves.’ And He was teaching daily in the temple [at Solomon’s Porch]. But the chief priests, the scribes and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to Him (Luke 19:45-48).

Notice that Jesus referred to the temple as a house. Christians often call their church building, “The House of God.” Do you see my point? The “house” mention in Acts 2:2 is the Temple. Jesus was teaching at the Temple in the area called, “Solomon’s Porch.

Solomon’s Porch was a long covered promenade on the eastern side of the Temple grounds. It had double columns that were over 37 feet tall. This is where people gathered to hear a speech, where Jesus taught and debated with the religious leaders. This is also where the disciples gathered and taught and where Peter healed the lame man. (See John 10:22-23; Acts 3:11; Acts 5:12.) It was the community gathering spot on the Temple Mount.

The Holy Spirit fell on the disciples on the Temple Mount at Solomon’s Porch where thousands of Jewish pilgrims had come to celebrate Shavuot. They all saw and heard the mighty wind of God and tongues of fire. They rushed to Solomon’s Porch to see what was happening when Peter stood and gave His sermon. About three thousand gladly received Peter’s words, accepted Yeshua/Jesus as their Messiah, and walked down the southern steps of the Temple grounds and got baptized.

I have included two amazing pictures below to help you visualize where this all took place. It was a lot more powerful than we have always believed.

If you want to know more, please order Dr. Booker’s book, Celebrating Jesus in the Biblical Feasts at www.rbooker.com.