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Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Acts 1:12

Return of the Disciples to Jerusalem, 12-14.

Acts 1:12. From the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey. Our Lord (Luke 24:50) had led out His disciples from the city as far as Bethany, had blessed them and ascended into heaven; but Bethany was about twice a Sabbath day's journey from Jerusalem. This discrepancy is, however, only apparent; for the suburb of Jerusalem called Bethphage, which lay between the city and Bethany, was legally counted as part of Jerusalem. So the distance for the Sabbath day's journey would be reckoned from the point where the suburb Bethphage ended, to the spot on the Mount of Olives in the Bethany district where the ascension took place (see a long and exhaustive note of Wordsworth on ‘The Place of the Ascension').

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See also Acts 1:12 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 1:12. _A SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY._] See the difficulties in this verse explained in _Clarke's note on "_Luke 24:50_"_. A Sabbath day's journey was _seven furlongs and a half_. Olivet was but...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM - In Luke 24:52, we are told that they worshipped Jesus before they returned, and it is probable that the act of worship to which he refers was what is mentioned in t...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS Part I The Witness to Jerusalem. The Advent of the Spirit and the Formation of the Church. The Offer to Israel and its Rejection. Chapter s 1-7 CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The Intro...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE COMMUNITY AT JERUSALEM. The scene of the Ascension was not mentioned before; we hear of it now. Luke 24:50 puts it at Bethany which is (John 11:18) fifteen stades (about 1¾ miles) from Jerusalem;...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Then they made their way back to Jerusalem from the hill which is called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, about half a mile away. When they came in. they went up to the upper room where t...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    POWER TO GO ON (Acts 1:1-5)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    OLIVET. Only here in N.T., but found often in the Papyri. The usual expression is the "Mount of Olives". FROM. near. A SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY. See App-51....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _from the mount called Olivet_ Elsewhere usually called the mount of Olives, but in Luke 19:29; Luke 21:37, some texts give, as here, Olivet _which is from Jerusalem_, &c. Literally, _which is near_ U...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Acts 1:1. Link connecting this book with St Luke's Gospel. Detailed account of the Ascension _The Title_. According to the best MSS. this should be simply "Acts of Apostles." The _Cod. Sin._gives only...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΤΟΥ͂ ΚΑΛΟΥΜΈΝΟΥ, as well as the subsequent indication of the locality of mountain, shew us that he for whom the Acts was written was a stranger to these places. ἘΛΑΙΩ͂ΝΟΣ. Here Ἐλαιών is given as the...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Acts 1:1-14. LINK CONNECTING THIS BOOK WITH ST LUKE’S GOSPEL. DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE ASCENSION...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _JESUS ASCENDED TO HEAVEN ACTS 1:9-12:_ The apostles were allowed to witness the ascension of the Lord. The Lord Jesus was "taken up" because "up" is where God is. Heaven is where Jesus is now sitting...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΎΠΈΣΤΡΕΨΑΝ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΎΠΟΣΤΡΈΦΩ (G5290) возвращаться, ΚΑΛΟΥΜΈΝΟΥ _praes. pass. part. (adj.) от_ ΚΑΛΈΩ (G2564) звать; _pass._ быть названным, носить имя. ΈΛΑΙΏΝΟΣ _gen. sing. от_ ΈΛΑΙΏΝ (G163...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    A SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY.— That is, about a mile. See the note on Luke 24:50....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    IN THE UPPER ROOM ACTS 1:12-26 Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey off. Acts 1:13 And when they were come...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    12. At the rebuke of the angel, the disciples withdrew their longing gaze from the cloud into which Jesus had entered, and cheered by the promise of his return, (12) "_Then they returned into Jerusale...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET, [ Elaioonos (G1638)] -...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 Acts is a continuation of the account of our Lord's ministry as recorded by Luke, who presents Him as Son of Mankind. As Theophilus is mentioned elsewhere only in Luke's account, it seems that the l...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    waiting Church. 12. Olivet] lit. 'the olive-orchard'; called usually The Mount of Olives. This, the scene of Christ's agony and betrayal, is now made the scene of His triumph. A SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY]...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE ASCENSION. ELECTION OF MATTHIAS 1-5. St. Luke's Introduction. He recapitulates the general contents of his Gospel, adding, however, this additional information, (1) that the appearances of the ri...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ ABOUT THIS BOOK THE WRITER Most people agree that Luke wrote Acts. Luke also wrote the third *Gospel. In Acts, he told how the good news about Jesus *C...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET. — As to the name, see Note on Luke 19:29. The mention of the distance, and the measure of distance employed are, both of them, remarkable, and suggest the thought that St...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    τότε : frequent in Acts and in St. Luke's Gospel, but most frequent in St. Matthew; on its use see Grimm-Thayer, and Blass, _Gramm. des N. G._, p. 270. ὑπέστρεψαν : a word characteristic of Luke both...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    BEGINNING AFRESH Acts 1:1-14 Luke informs Theophilus (the name means “a lover of God”) that his Gospel told the story of what the Lord _began_ to do and teach. Evidently this further book is a _conti...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In the opening verse Luke reveals the nature of his first treatise. It had to do with "all that Jesus began to do and to teach." This is followed by the last glimpse we have of the disciples before Pe...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Praying in Jerusalem In full accord with the Lord's instructions, those who had seen Jesus ascend went into the city of Jerusalem and assembled in an upper room. In his previous writing to Theophilus,...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath (h) day's journey. (h) About two miles....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Sabbath-day's journey. It cannot now be precisely determined what this distance was, but it is most probable, that it was about a mile. On particular occasions, it perhaps was allowed to exceed a lit...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    THE UPPER CHAMBER 12, 13. The walled city of Jerusalem is a quadrangle about twice as long from east to west as wide from north to south. The population is now estimated at fifty thousand, the city wi...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. (13) And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Pete...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    First of all we see man in an entirely new place man risen from among the dead and ascending to heaven. The risen ascended man, Christ Jesus, is the new starting-point of the dealings of God. The firs...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    12.That he may pass over unto another history, he showeth that the disciples being returned unto Jerusalem, dwelt together in one parlor. For it was the upper part of the house, which used to be let o...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Let us now examine the Chapter s in their course. Chapter 1 supplies us with the narrative of that which relates to Jesus risen, and the actions of the apostles before the descent of the Holy Ghost. T...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM,.... With great joy, after the angels had told them that he should come again in like manner: FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET; which was on the east side of Jerusalem,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. Ver. 12. _From the mount_] Near unto which he had been apprehended, viz. at Bethany, a...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Then returned they unto Jerusalem_ According to their Master's appointment, having first worshipped him, Luke 24:52. Here they were in the midst of enemies; but it seems, though immediately after Chr...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    A SABBATH - DAY'S JOURNEY; a little less than a mile....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET, WHICH IS FROM JERUSALEM A SABBATH-DAY'S JOURNEY....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE ELECTION OF MATTHIAS. The return to Jerusalem:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Verse 1 establishes the fact that Luke (a Gentile) is the writer, "the former treatise" being his Gospel (Luke 1:1). In that case Theophilus is addressed as "most excellent," manifestly a public offic...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    THEN THEY RETURNED TO JERUSALEM FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET, WHICH IS NEAR JERUSALEM, A SABBATH DAY ' S JOURNEY. 1. Sabbath day's journey - Albert Barnes says, " As far as might be lawfully traveled...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem,. Sabbath day's journey off. 'FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET'-Which is. north-to-south ridge of hills east o...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    12-14 God can find hiding-places for his people. They made supplication. All God's people are praying people. It was now a time of trouble and danger with the disciples of Christ; but if any is affli...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET, which Bethany was a part of, as situate towards the bottom of it, remoter from Jerusalem. Hence LUKE 24:50, differs not from this place. From hence the rather our Lord as...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    12. At the rebuke of the angel, the disciples withdrew their longing gaze from the cloud into which Jesus had entered, and cheered by the promise of his return, (12) " Then they returned into Jerusale...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    The Teaching of the Apostles , and[7]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 1:12 Then G5119 returned G5290 (G5656) to G1519 Jerusalem G2419 from G575 mount G3735 called G2564 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST (1:12-26). In obedience to His command they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives where all this had happened, and entered the upper chamber where they were staying...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh to Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey off.' The citing of the place where all this had occurred is a testimony to its genui...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    OLIVET (Ελαιωνος). Genitive singular. Vulgate _Olivetum_. Made like αμπελων. Here only in the N.T., usually το ορος των Ελαιων (the Mount of Olives), though some MSS. have Olivet in Luke 19:29; Luke...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    JOURNEY About 4854 feet....

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Acts 1:1. The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandmen...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Resurrection ministry of Christ. The apostolic commission. Promise of the Lord's second coming. Waiting for the coming of the Spirit. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Spirit, Luke, Theophilus, John...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 1:1. _The former treatise have I made of all that Jesus began to do and teach._ St. Luke, a companion of St. Paul, here continues his history. It comprises a display of providence and grace in th...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    THEN THE APOSTLES WENT BACK. Jesus was taken up from the Mount of Olives. [A shrine is built on the supposed spot.] Now they return to the city to wait....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The former treatise have I made._ A TRUE COMMENCEMENT MUST HAVE RESPECT TO WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE In any new beginning of study or work, it is important to have in mind what has been done before in th...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And when He had spoken these words, while they beheld, He was taken up._ TAKEN UP How we talk about “up,” took “up” I What eager, earnest; faces are looking up through the clouds of sorrow. The atm...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then returned they unto Jerusalem._ THE RETURN TO JERUSALEM The distance was a “Sabbath-day’s journey”; not that Moses had limited a journey on the Sabbath; but the Rabbins derived the rule from th...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 1:12 A SABBATH DAY’S JOURNEY was the maximum distance one could travel on the Sabbath without it being considered work, according to later Jewish tradition. The rabbis set the limit...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 1:1 Preparation for Witness. Acts 1:1 opens with the account of the Spirit’s descent at Pentecost. Chapter...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 1:12. A SABBATH DAY’S JOURNEY—according to Josephus six (_Ant._, XX. viii. 6) or five (_Wars_, V. ii. 3) furlongs—marked the distance of the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem, not...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 1:1 _I made_ for _have I made, _A.V.; _concerning _for _of, _A.V.; _to teach _for _teach, _A.V. THE FORMER TREATISE; literally, _the first _history, narrative, or discourse. The form...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn to the book of Acts, chapter one, as we begin our study of the early church. Luke, the author of the book of Acts, a companion of Paul the apostle, who was author also of the Gospel Acco...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    John 11:18; Luke 21:37; Luke 24:50; Luke 24:52; Matthew 21:1;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    A Sabbath - day's journey [σ α β β α τ ο υ ε χ ο ν ο δ ο ν]. Lit., having a Sabbath's way. The way conceived as belonging to the mountain; connected with it in reference to the neighborhood of Jerusal...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    A Sabbath — day's journey — The Jews generally fix this to two thousand cubits, which is not a mile....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    The apostles having seen our Saviour thus gloriously ascended into heaven from Mount Olivet, they return to Jerusalem; which is called. sabbath-day's journey that is, about two miles. Eight furlongs m...

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Old Testament