Gospel Reading, Luke 24,49-53

Luke 24:49 (RSV) And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.

51 While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.

52 And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Luke 24:49 (RSV) And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high." 

Luke 24:49 PNT # Lu 24:49 *The promise of my Father.* Of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. *Tarry ye.* They were not to begin the great work until the endowment from on High came. (PNT 320)

Luke 24:49 WPNT {Until ye be clothed} (\heôs hou endusêsthe\). First aorist middle subjunctive of \enduô\ or \endunô\. It is an old verb for putting on a garment. It is here the indirect middle, put on yourselves power from on high as a garment. They are to wait till this experience comes to them. This is "the promise of the Father." It is an old metaphor in Homer, Aristophanes, Plutarch, and Paul uses it often.

Luke 24:49 TSK * I send. # Isa 44:3,4 59:20,21 Joe 2:28 *etc: # Joh 14:16,17,26 15:26 16:7-16

* but. # Isa 32:15 Ac 1:4,8 2:1-21

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 

50 MHC #50-53  Christ ascended from Bethany, near the Mount of Olives. There was the garden in which his sufferings began; there he was in his agony. Those that would go to heaven, must ascend thither from the house of sufferings and sorrows. The disciples did not see him rise out of the grave; his resurrection could be proved by their seeing him alive afterwards: but they saw him ascend into heaven; they could not otherwise have a proof of his ascension. He lifted up his hands, and blessed them. He did not go away in displeasure, but in love, he left a blessing behind him. As he arose, so he ascended, by his own power. They worshipped him. This fresh display of Christ's glory drew from them fresh acknowledgments. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy. The glory of Christ is the joy of all true believers, even while they are here in this world. While waiting for God's promises, we must go forth to meet them with our praises. And nothing better prepares the mind for receiving the Holy Ghost. Fears are silenced, sorrows sweetened and allayed, and hopes kept up. And this is the ground of a Christian's boldness at the throne of grace; yea, the Father's throne is the throne of grace to us, because it is also the throne of our Mediator, Jesus Christ. Let us rely on his promises, and plead them. Let us attend his ordinances, praise and bless God for his mercies, set our affections on things above, and expect the Redeemer's return to complete our happiness. Amen. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.

50 PNT # Lu 24:50 *He led them out as far as to Bethany.* For other accounts of the Ascension, see # Mr 16:19-20 Ac 1:1-9 *Blessed them.* The last act of the Saviour upon the earth was a blessing. (PNT 320-321)

50 WPNT {Over against Bethany} (\heôs pros Bêthanian\). That is on Olivet. On this blessed spot near where he had delivered the great Eschatological Discourse he could see Bethany and Jerusalem.

50 TSK * as far. # Mr 11:1 Ac 1:12

* he lifted. # Ge 14:18-20 27:4 48:9 49:28 Nu 6:23-27 Mr 10:16 Heb 7:5-7

51 While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. 

51 WPNT {He parted from them} (\diestê ap' autôn\). Second aorist active (intransitive) indicative of \diistêmi\. He stood apart (\dia\) and he was gone. Some manuscripts do not have the words "and was carried into heaven." But we know that Jesus was taken up into heaven on a cloud (#Ac 1:9|).

51 SCO [1] {while he blessed them} The attitude of our Lord here characterizes this age. It is one of grace; an ascended Lord is blessing a believing people with spiritual blessings. The Jewish age was marked by temporal blessings as the reward of an obedient people (Deu 28.1-15).

[2] {heaven} The Scriptures distinguish three heavens: first, the lower heavens, or the region of the clouds; secondly, the second or planetary heavens; and, thirdly, the heaven of heavens, the abode of God.

51 TSK * he was. # 2Ki 2:11 Mr 16:19 Joh 20:17 Ac 1:9 Eph 4:8-10 Heb 1:3 4:14

52 And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 

52 PNT # Lu 24:52 *Returned to Jerusalem with great joy.* Their Lord not only lived, but had ascended to his throne. (PNT 321)

52 WPNT {Worshipped him} (\proskunêsantes auton\). Here again we have one of Westcott and Hort's Western non-interpolations that may be genuine or not. {With great joy} (\meta charas megalês\). Now that the Ascension has come they are no longer in despair. Joy becomes the note of victory as it is today. No other note can win victories for Christ. The bells rang in heaven to greet the return of Jesus there, but he set the carillon of joy to ringing on earth in human hearts in all lands and for all time.

52 TSK * they. # Mt 28:9,17 Joh 20:28

* with. # Ps 30:11 Joh 14:28 16:7,22 1Pe 1:8

53 and were continually in the temple blessing God. 

53 PNT # Lu 24:53 *Were continually in the temple.* Worshipping and teaching. See # Ac 2:46 Verse 53 is a link between Luke's Gospel and his Acts of the Apostles. (PNT 321)

53 TSK * in. # Ac 2:46,47 5:41,42 * Amen. # Mt 28:20 Mr 16:20 Re 22:21

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON LUKE'S GOSPEL.

Luke, to whom this Gospel has been uniformly attributed from the earliest ages of the Christian church, is generally allowed to have been 'the beloved physician' mentioned by Paul, (Col. 4:14;) and as he was the companion of that apostle, in all his labours and sufferings, for many years, (Ac. 16:12; 20:1-6; 27:1,2; 28:13-16. 2Ti. 4:11. Phm. 24,) and wrote 'the Acts of the Apostles,' which conclude with a brief account of Paul's imprisonment at Rome, we may be assured that he had the Apostle's sanction to what he did; and probably this Gospel was written some time before that event, about A.D. 63 or 64, as is generally supposed. He would appear, from Col. 4:10, 11, and his intimate acquaintance with the Greek language, as well as from his Greek name [Loukas <3065>,] to have been of Gentile extraction; and according to Eusebius and others, he was a native of Antioch. But, from the Hebraisms occurring in his writings, and especially from his accurate knowledge of the Jewish rites, ceremonies, and custom, it is highly probable that he was a Jewish proselyte, and afterwards converted to Christianity. Though he may not have been, as some have affirmed, one of the seventy disciples, and an eye-witness of our Saviour's miracles, yet his intercourse with the apostles, and those who were eye-witnesses of the works and ear witnesses of the words of Christ, renders him an unexceptional witness, if considered merely as an historian; and the early and unanimous reception of his Gospel as divinely inspired is sufficient to satisfy every reasonable person.

|  Luke 24:49 (RSV) And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."                  50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.            51 While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.              52 And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy,           53 and were continually in the temple blessing God. |  Luke 24:49 (NRSV) And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."                 50 Then he led them out as far as Beth'any, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.           51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. {Other ancient authorities lack [and was carried up into heaven]}         52 And they worshiped him, and {Other ancient authorities lack [worshiped him, and]} returned to Jerusalem with great joy;       53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God. {Other ancient authorities add [Amen]} |  Luke 24:49 (NIV) I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."                  50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.           51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.              52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.          53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. |