STRONGS NT 508: ἀνώγαιονἀνώγαιον and ἀνώγεον, see under ἀνάγαιον.

The term designates an upstairs guest chamber, spacious enough to host a sizeable company, typically situated atop a flat-roofed dwelling. Such rooms were prized for privacy, security, fresh air, and freedom from street-level disturbance, making them ideal for celebrations, devotion, and instruction.

Occurrences in the Gospels

The word appears twice, both in the Passion narratives:

Mark 14:15 – “He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

Luke 22:12 – “And he will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.”

These parallel accounts identify the same physical location where Jesus shared the final Passover with His disciples.

Architectural and Cultural Background

First-century Jewish homes in Jerusalem often had a stone or mud-brick lower level for daily life and livestock, with an external stairway leading to an upper chamber built of lighter materials. The room doubled as a place for honored guests or special gatherings. Rabbinic sources describe such chambers being loaned to pilgrims during the festivals, a custom that harmonizes with the owner’s willingness to accommodate Jesus and His entourage during Passover.

The Upper Room and the Passover of Christ

Within this prepared space the Lord instituted the memorial that Christians know as the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:14–20) and delivered extensive farewell teaching (John 13–16). The location facilitated:
• Covenant symbolism—bread and cup interpreted in light of the Exodus deliverance celebrated downstairs across the city.
• Intimate fellowship—only the Twelve were present, underscoring Jesus’ deliberate focus on His foundational witnesses.
• Predictive revelation—prophecies concerning betrayal, denial, and the coming of the Spirit were spoken in an atmosphere of solemn readiness.

Foreshadowing of the New Covenant

The elevated setting suitably prefigured the elevation of Christ’s priestly ministry (Hebrews 8:1–2). Just as the upper chamber stood above the ordinary level, the New Covenant instituted there stands above the shadows of the Mosaic system.

From Passover to Pentecost

Although Luke later employs a different Greek term, Acts 1:13 depicts the apostles gathering again in an “upper room,” and Acts 2:1 locates the outpouring of the Spirit in a house large enough for many worshipers. The continuity of venue links the Last Supper to Pentecost: the room first dedicated to remembrance becomes a cradle of empowerment, testifying that redemption and mission are inseparable.

Themes of Preparation and Hospitality

Mark stresses that the room was “furnished and ready,” reflecting the providence of God and the obedience of unnamed disciples who followed Jesus’ instructions. The narrative commends:
• Practical service—providing a setting where sacred history could unfold.
• Discreet cooperation—avoiding public fanfare while accomplishing Kingdom purposes.
• Prompt obedience—entering a place already prepared by divine foresight (compare Exodus 12:11).

Spiritual Lessons for the Church

1. Expectation: God ordains specific places and moments for pivotal spiritual events.
2. Separation: Moments of highest revelation often occur when believers withdraw from noise and distraction.
3. Unity: The entire company shared one table, one loaf, one cup—anticipating the universal body of Christ.
4. Transformation: An ordinary domestic space becomes a sanctified setting once surrendered to the Lord’s use.

Conclusion

Strong’s 508, though recorded only twice, frames the decisive turning point between old and new covenants. The “large upper room” stands as a silent witness to sacrificial love, covenant inauguration, and the birth of mission that would soon spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).