1The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 2until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God’s Kingdom. 4Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 5For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
9When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, 11who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying, that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, 16“Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. 17For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry. 18Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness; and falling headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines gushed out. 19It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’ 20For it is written in the book of Psalms,
‘Let his habitation be made desolate.
Let no one dwell in it;’
and,
‘Let another take his office.’
21“Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23They put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen 25to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.” 26They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Contrary to popular perspective, the 120 people who were in the Upper Room, consisting of the apostles, and various other disciples, including the mother of Jesus, and some other women, did not receive the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Instead, the evidence is reasonably certain that only the twelve apostles received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in agreement with Jesus' promise at the time of His ascension.
Following are the reasons why this is most likely true:
1. Luke's ending for his Gospel (24:48-53) says these words:
"You are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.'
'He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen."
Apparently before the Day of Pentecost, the apostles were with other disciples in the Upper Room (possibly home of Mary, mother of John Mark; see article on Upper Room). During the day, however, they were in the temple area praising and blessing God.
2. The apostles are the last referents in Acts 1, with the words "the eleven apostles." The next words are in Acts 2, "they were," grammatically referring to the "apostles."
3. Those persons of Acts 2:1 were sitting in the house, which speaks not of a room for sleeping, but a place they were sitting. Sitting was for teaching, and standing would be for prayer (Acts 2:1), according to Jewish practice. See "Where Did the Holy Spirit Descend on the Day of Pentecost?" at Acts 2:1.
4. The miracle occurred in the morning, the third hour of the day (starting at 6:00 a.m.; Acts 2:15), not in the evening.
5. The apostles were able to be observed, not really possible in an upper room, on a narrow street of Jerusalem.
6. All of the persons who received the Spirit were identified as Galileans (by their accent), and this is true of the apostles.
7. In verse 14 Peter stood up with the eleven (compare Acts 1:26), and not the 120 where they were staying or sleeping (Acts 1:13). It is the twelve apostles on whose heads the tongues of fire appeared and through whom the Holy Spirit spoke.
8. The people said "to Peter and the rest of the apostles" (Acts 2:37) and not to 120 people.
9. After they heard Peter's sermon about 3,000 Jews believed in the Good News and were baptized (Acts 2:41), a task that was able to be done by the 12 apostles in the mikveh outside the southern wall a short distance from where they heard the message.
10. Following this a focus again came on the apostles who had received the Holy Spirit and from whom the Gospel had come (Acts 2:42).