Luke 24:50 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.

NIV: When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.

NASB: And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

CSB: Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.

NLT: Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them.

KJV: And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

NKJV: And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

It is forty days since Passover and Jesus' death; ten days to Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:3). Jesus has visited enough of His disciples that the witness of His resurrection is irrefutable by reasonable people (John 21; 1 Corinthians 15:5–7). Jesus has shown His followers how He fulfilled Scripture (Luke 24:45–48) and has spoken about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).

At this late time, the disciples are still confused about what the kingdom of God is. They ask Him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). That would be nice. But the Jewish leadership has not repented. They have not led the people to their Messiah. It doesn't appear the core group has even gone out to validate the rumors they must be hearing from those who have seen Jesus.

Part of the covenant the Israelites made with God addresses reconciliation after a long period of rebellion:

But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land." (Leviticus 26:40–42)

The leaders refuse to do this. They will not be reconciled until the end times. Jesus explains that knowing when this will happen is not the disciples' business. Their business is to receive the Holy Spirit and be His "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:7–8).

Their obedience is what eventually led to you reading this now.

Luke 24:50–53 is the first of two times Luke records Jesus' ascension. Acts 1:6–11 gives more detail. It has been forty days since the crucifixion. Christ must return to heaven so the Holy Spirit can indwell His followers and they can build the church. He takes the disciples to Bethany where they watch Him ascend into the heavens. The disciples return to Jerusalem. There, they replace Judas and praise God in the temple until the Holy Spirit comes ten days later.

After Jesus is executed and buried (Luke 23:52–53), the women who had followed Him from Galilee come to improve His burial condition. They find an open, empty tomb and angels. The disciples are informed. Two of them spend time speaking with a stranger while walking, only to realize it was Jesus Himself. Jesus appears to His followers, eating fish and explaining how His role as Messiah was predicted in Scripture. Jesus then ascends to heaven while His disciples worship.

Luke 24 describes how Jesus' followers learned of His resurrection. Luke 23 recorded His legal trials, crucifixion, death, and burial. Acts chapter 1, also written by Luke, explains how Jesus' followers prepare for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church. Luke 24's theme is the fulfillment of prophecy from Jesus and the Old Testament prophets. Once Jesus' followers understand, He returns to heaven. Matthew 28 includes how the Sanhedrin bribed the guards. John chapter 20 adds Thomas coming to believe while chapter 21 records Peter's reconciliation with Jesus.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.