Church Fathers Commentary Luke 24:50-53

"And he led them out until [they were] over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, blessing God." — Luke 24:50-53 (ASV)

The Venerable Bede: Having omitted everything that may have taken place during the forty-three days between our Lord and His disciples, St. Luke silently connects the first day of the resurrection with the last day, when He ascended into heaven, saying, And he led them out as far as to Bethany.

He did this first because of the name of the place, which means “the house of obedience.” For He who descended because of the disobedience of the wicked ascended because of the obedience of the converted. Second, it was because of the location of the village, which is said to be on the side of the Mount of Olives. This is because He has placed the foundations of the obedient Church—faith, hope, and love—on the side of that highest mountain, which is Christ.

He blessed those to whom He had given the precepts of His teaching, as it says next: And he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Perhaps He was pouring into them a power of preservation until the coming of the Spirit. He may also have been instructing them that whenever we depart, we should commend those under our care to God with a blessing.

Origen of Alexandria: The fact that He blessed them with uplifted hands signifies that it is fitting for one who blesses another to be equipped with various works and labors on behalf of others. For it is in this way that the hands are raised high.

St. John Chrysostom: But observe that the Lord presents the promised rewards to our sight. He had promised the resurrection of the body; He rose from the dead and conferred with His disciples for forty days. It is also promised that we shall be caught up in the clouds through the air; this He also demonstrated by His actions. For the text continues, And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them...

Theophylact of Ohrid: Elijah was seen, as it were, to be taken up into heaven, but the Savior, the forerunner of all, Himself ascended into heaven to appear before God in His sacred body. And already, our human nature is honored in Christ with a certain angelic power.

St. John Chrysostom: But you will ask, "How does this concern me?" It is because you also will be taken up into the clouds in the same way. For your body is of the same nature as His body; therefore, your body will be so light that it can pass through the air.

For as the head is, so also is the body; as the beginning is, so also is the end. See, then, how you are honored by this beginning. Humanity was the lowest part of the rational creation, but the feet have been made the head, being lifted high to the royal throne in their Head.

The Venerable Bede: When the Lord ascended into heaven, the disciples, worshipping Him on the very spot where His feet had just stood, immediately returned to Jerusalem, where they were commanded to wait for the promise of the Father. For the text continues, And they worshipped him, and returned... Their joy was great indeed, for they rejoiced that their God and Lord, after the triumph of His resurrection, had also passed into the heavens.

Greek Expositors: They were watching, praying, and fasting because they were not living in their own homes but were abiding in the temple, awaiting the grace from on high. From the place itself, they were learning, among other things, piety and integrity. Hence it is said, And were continually in the temple.

Theophylact of Ohrid: The Spirit had not yet come, and yet their way of life was spiritual. Before, they were shut away in fear; now they stand in the midst of the chief priests. They were distracted by no worldly thing, but despising all things, they praised God continually, as it says, Praising and blessing God.

The Venerable Bede: Observe that among the four living creatures in heaven, Luke is said to be represented by the calf. This is because those chosen for the priesthood were ordered to be initiated by the sacrifice of a calf, and Luke has undertaken to explain the priesthood of Christ more fully than the others.

His Gospel, which began with the temple ministry in the priesthood of Zechariah, concludes with devotion in the temple. He has placed the Apostles there as those who were about to be ministers of a new priesthood—one not based on the blood of sacrifices, but on the praises of God and on blessing. This was so that, in the place of prayer and amidst the praises of their devotion, they might wait with prepared hearts for the promise of the Spirit.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Imitating them, may we always dwell in a holy life, praising and blessing God. To Him be glory, blessing, and power, forever and ever. Amen.