Easter Season · Year B
Ascension of the Lord
39th Day after Easter and 10 days before Pentecost, or 42 days after Easter if celebrated on Sunday, which then places it a week before Pentecost.
Overview & Insights
“You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:48)
This passage not only brings Luke’s Gospel narrative, and especially its developing resurrection motif, to a triumphant conclusion, but also prepares for the taking up of the story in Luke’s second volume, Acts. The summary of the gospel message in 24:46–48, the cryptic promise of “power from on high” in 24:49, Jesus’s ascension in 24:51 (more fully narrated in Acts 1:1–11), and the communal life of the believers in Jerusalem in 24:52–53) will be developed in the early chapters of Acts. The story of Jesus is now becoming the story of the Jesus movement. The most obvious difference between these verses and Acts is the lack here of any indication of the passage of time (forty days [Acts 1:3]) between Jesus’s resurrection and ascension. In bringing his Gospel to an appropriately “orderly” (1:3) literary conclusion, Luke apparently feels no need to be pedantic about the chronological data.
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Commentary
Commentary on Luke 24:44-53 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary on Jesus opening the disciples' minds to the scriptures before the ascension.
Luke 24 - The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Enduring Word · David Guzik
Guzik's evangelical notes on the opened mind, the promise of the Spirit, and the ascension.
Luke 24:44 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries on the fulfillment of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms in Christ.
Luke 24 Commentary Precept Austin
In-depth verse-by-verse study notes on Luke 24 from many evangelical scholars.
For the Love of the World: SALT's Commentary for Ascension Sunday SALT Project
Ecumenical commentary on understanding scripture and the mission that flows from the ascension.
The Ascension of the Lord, Cycle B Sunday Connection Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Catholic Sunday Connection with reflection questions and prayer for the feast.
Background & Word Study
Luke (book introduction) Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the Gospel of Luke (background use).
Overview: Luke 10-24 BibleProject
Animated overview of Luke 10-24 leading to the resurrection and ascension.
Luke 24:44 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek-English interlinear for word study on dianoigo (opened) their minds.
The Church Fathers
Sermons & Reflections
Worship & Prayers
Questions preachers ask
How does Luke's Gospel close?
The risen Jesus opens the disciples' minds to understand the Scriptures, tells them repentance and forgiveness will be preached to all nations, promises the Spirit, and is carried up into heaven blessing them.
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