Pentecost and the Number 120
What does the number 120 mean in relationship to the establishing of the New Testament church on Pentecost (Acts 1)? Who were the first men and women named in the Bible that became Christians? What did they accomplish?
How long did the first 120 Christians stay together? Why did God allow them to be scattered? Where did they go and what did they do after they left Jerusalem?
The Meaning
What is the significance and symbolism of 120 (one hundred twenty) as it relates to Pentecost in 30 A.D.? Jesus commanded his disciples, on the day of his ascension, to stay in Jerusalem to await the manifestation of God's power upon them.
And while they were assembled with Him, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to "await the promise of the Father, which," He said, "you have heard of Me . . . " (Acts 1:4, HBFV throughout).
The number of believers meeting together in Jerusalem was 120 (Acts 1:15).
120 is the product of the Biblically perfect numbers ten and twelve. Ten symbolizes a perfect and complete divine order while twelve represents God's power to establish a perfect foundation. The multiplication of these numbers underscores the supernatural creation of a perfect spiritual foundation of great significance.
God brought 120 believers together in Jerusalem so that he could establish a powerful spiritual foundation to the New Testament church. This set of Christians were the first of countless others who, no matter when or where they lived, would all be ruled by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:23).
Those gathered in Jerusalem were significant for another reason. They were the single greatest mass outpouring of God's spirit upon humans since the time of Moses (see Numbers 11:16 - 17).
What Are Their Names?
The Bible reveals the names of at least a few of the people who were part of the 120 believers gathered in Jerusalem.
Part of the 120 were, of course, eleven of his apostles (Acts 1:13). Matthias and Joseph (Barsabas), nominated to replace Judas Iscariot, were also part of the assembly (verses 16 - 26). They were likely among the 70 Jesus personally trained (Luke 10). Jesus' mother Mary, in her last New Testament mention, was also in attendance along with her four sons (James, Joses, Judas and Simon) (verse 14).
Women at Pentecost
Luke, in Acts 1:14, states that Jesus' mother Mary was only one of several women in Jerusalem awaiting Pentecost. At least two of these other females were likely her daughters (Mark 6:3).
Other women who almost certainly were numbered among the 120 include Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses and Salome (Mark 15:40 - 41). The gospel writer Mark's mother (Acts 12:12), and Lazarus' sisters Martha and Mary (John 11:1), were also likely in attendance (Holy Bible, a Faithful Version, 2nd Ed., chapter 6).
A few of the women may have also come from those who openly wept for Jesus as he was led by the Romans to his crucifixion.
And following Him was a great multitude of people with many women, who also were bewailing and lamenting Him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children . . . " (Luke 23:27 - 28).
The Other Men
The Bible offers us a clue as to the likely largest contingent of men who made up the 120.
Jesus, less than six months before his crucifixion (Luke 10), personally trained 70 of his disciples (none of which were the apostles). Two of these men were Matthias and Joseph (Barsabas) mentioned above. The other 68 were also among the assembly of believers in Jerusalem.
The two men traveling to Emmaus whom Jesus miraculously appeared to, after his resurrection, were also likely two of the 120 (Luke 24:13 - 32). Others include the gospel writer Mark (Mark 14:51 - 52) and Lazarus (John 12:1 - 10), as well as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (John 19:38 - 39).
Possibilities
Who were the remaining individuals who were the foundation of the early church? One possibility is the unnamed man who provided Jesus with a private but well-prepared room in which to eat his last Passover meal (Luke 22:10 - 13).
Three other possible early followers of Jesus are Simon of Cyrene and his sons Alexander and Rufus. Simon was the man forced to carry Jesus' stake to Golgotha after he could no longer do so. Simon was so well known, by name, among the apostles that he is recorded in three Gospel accounts (Matthew 27:32 - 33, Mark 15:21 - 22, Luke 23:26)!
Jesus, before his ascension, showed himself alive to 500+ people. It is quite possible, and even highly likely, that at least some of these were among the 120 in Jerusalem.
Then He appeared to over five hundred brethren at one time, of whom the greater part are alive until now, but some have fallen asleep (1Corinthians 15:6).
Accomplishments
What role did the 120 believers play in the early New Testament church?
This group, even before miraculously receiving God's spirit, were instrumental in selecting two qualified individuals who could take the place of Judas (Acts 1:16 - 26).
They also, after receiving God's spirit early on Pentecost (May 28), helped baptize 3,000 people brought to repentance by Peter's message (Acts 2:14 - 41). Later they were among those who prayed, after Peter and John were detained by religious leaders, that the gospel would continue to be preached with power (4:23 - 31).
The 120 were additionally among those who selected seven men to help serve the growing needs of the church.
It is not proper for us to leave the Word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brethren, search out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business (Acts 6:2 - 3).
Motivation Through Persecution
Jesus, in his last instruction just before his ascension, made it plain what those who believed in him were to do with the power they would soon receive.
"But you yourselves shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8).
The disciples, roughly two years after the mandate of Acts 1:8, still had yet to fulfill its goal of preaching the gospel to the world. God therefore allowed persecution to come upon the first Christians so that they would finally begin to fulfill his will.
God's "wake up call" in 32 A.D. took the form of the first Christian martyr named Stephen. Saul (the Apostle Paul before his conversion), after Stephen's murder, then began a zealous campaign of hunting down and arresting believers.
And they stoned Stephen, who called upon God, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:59).
Now Saul had consented to killing him (Stephen). And that day a great persecution arose against the church that was in Jerusalem . . . But Saul was ravaging the church, going from house to house, entering in and dragging out men and women, and delivering them up to prison (Acts 8:1, 3).
Where Did They Go?
Where did many of the first 120 Christians, and the rest of the church, go in response to Saul's persecutions? What did they do after they left Jerusalem?
. . . and all the believers were scattered throughout the countries of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles . . . Therefore, those who were scattered passed through everywhere, preaching the word of the gospel (Acts 8:1, 4).
Even though scattered by persecution, the 120 continued to serve God and preach the gospel wherever they went.
Conclusion
Those numbered among the first 120 believers God converted, on Pentecost, became the foundation of the New Testament church. The pure truth and faith they received became the model all later believers were commanded to strive for (Jude 1:3). Although they existed as a group for only roughly two years, they paved the way for countless other believers to follow in their footsteps.