Luke 24:51

Modern

While He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven.

Traditional

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Literal

And it came to pass, in His blessing them, that He was separated from them and was carried up into heaven.

Latin

Et factum est, dum benediceret illis, recessit ab eis, et ferebatur in cælum.

Greek

English

While He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven.

Compare 2 Kings 2:11. The ascension of Jesus marked his exaltation to a position of authority over all creation (see Acts 2:32–36; 5:31; Ephesians 1:19–23; Philippians 2:9–11; Hebrews 1:13).

Luke also tells about the ascension of Jesus (his return to heaven) in Acts 1:1–11. For Luke, this event showed that God had:

vindicated Jesus (proved that he was right),
exalted him (lifted him to the highest place), and
seated him at his right hand as Messiah (God’s chosen king) and Lord (the one with full authority; Acts 2:24–36).

From this place of glory and authority in heaven, Jesus leads and guides his church.

Theme notes and profiles

Acts 1:9
After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
Mark 16:19
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
John 20:17
“Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”
2 Kings 2:11
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.
Ephesians 4:8–10
This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”
Hebrews 4:14
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.