Upper Room

As the term suggests this was a room either in the top floor of a house or built on the typical flat roof of houses and often used as a guest room or place of prayer to entreat God’s power.

The Bible mentions several significance events occurring in ‘upper rooms’:

* Daniel retreated to his upper room to pray, as it was his custom, even when a decree was issued to kill those who choose to worship anyone besides the king (Dan 6:10).

* It was in an upper room that Elijah cried out to God in prayer and a dead child came back to life (1 Kgs 17:17-23)

* Another account is Elisha being used to raise another child to life in a similar setting (2 Kgs 4:10,21,33-37).

* Just prior to His crucifixion Jesus celebrated His last meal (hence last supper) with His disciples in a large upper room.  It was during the traditional Passover meal that Jesus introduced the ceremony that has become known as the Breaking of Bread, the Lord’s Supper or more commonly communion (Mk 14:12-25).

* As the Jews would have been using the Temple, the Christians needed to have their own place of worship. Hence, we see using upper rooms was a practical solution, a place conducive to meeting in fellowship and in prayer, which are crucial elements of the Christian faith. The disciples were again in an upper room and it was here the outpouring of the Holy Spirit happened as they were gathered in one accord in prayer and supplication (Act 1:13, 2:1-4). Here a remarkable transformation occurs when they are filled with the Holy Spirit; this is referred to as 'the day of Pentecost'. Peter, who had previously denied Christ in front of a servant girl, miraculously and courageously preaches to the crowds that had gathered and three thousand men are converted which was the start of the early church (Act 2:14,41).

* It was in an upper room that Peter raised the woman Dorcas (Act 9:37-41).

* Another account is of Paul preaching in an upper room, where a young man sitting in the window went to sleep and fell to his death from the third story. He also was raised to life (Act 20:8-11).

Thus as such these rooms were considered a place of retreat and prayer, as well as a place where God’s power was shown. While we should not give undue merit to an ‘upper room’ it is beneficial to have a special place where we travail in prayer before God and our lives are impacted by the Lord. However, regardless of a specific place with God, make space for Him; have intimate fellowship with your Saviour and expect Him to touch your life and spirit.

See also: communion, last supper, Pentecost.