why do you like church buildings for meetings?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

The word "house" could be used in a generic sense for any kind of building, even the Temple.

Here is the thing, whatever kind of building it was, it held at least 120 people not to mention the possibility those unbelieving Jews that confronted Peter. That is a very large room.

They were all sitting in that room when this happened

Act 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Then when those unbelievers spoke up about this event the Apostles all stood up to represent the new faith

Act 2:14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

It also had to be located where all those visiting Jews, there for the day of Pentecost celebration, could hear of this event

The word house means HOUSE.

Oikos - a house, a place where one dwells.

oikos
Pronunciation
oi'-kos (Key)
Part of Speech
masculine noun
Root Word (Etymology)
Of uncertain affinity
Dictionary Aids
Vine's Expository Dictionary: View Entry
TDNT Reference: 5:119,674
Outline of Biblical Usage
a house
an inhabited house, home
any building whatever
of a palace
the house of God, the tabernacle
any dwelling place
of the human body as the abode of demons that possess it
of tents, and huts, and later, of the nests, stalls, lairs, of animals
the place where one has fixed his residence, one's settled abode, domicile
the inmates of a house, all the persons forming one family, a household
the family of God, of the Christian Church, of the church of the Old and New Testaments
stock, family, descendants of one

I suppose you will seize upon the phrase 'any building whatever', however I challenge you to show me where oikos is used of anything other than a dwelling place. It is not used of a synagogue.

It is used of the Temple for that was the Old Covenant 'house of God'. According to the Lexicon is is distinguished from DOMOS, the actual BUILDING where a family lives. Thus, it means an 'inhabited house', a place where the 'oikos' (household) lived. It would not be used of a store for example (unless the store were located in someone's oikos, of course).

It is translated house, household, home, at home, home with.

They were at a house, in the upper room or 'guestchamber' (Luke 22:1).

They were a house church.

They were not incorporated under either Jewish law or Roman law (or US law for that matter).

They were not a denomination.

They were a HOUSEHOLD, the household of God, the family of God.

And they weren't doing a 'praise a thon' to raise money for a building so they could hurry up and get out of those pesky houses and into a lovely new testament TEMPLE building.