Devine Scripture

Luke 24:51

What does Luke 24:51 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 24:51 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 24:51 means

While He is blessing them, Jesus parts from them and is carried up into heaven. His ascension is both departure and enthronement. He does not vanish into obscurity; He is exalted to the Father’s presence, continuing His work as Lord. That He ascends while blessing assures us that His intercession and favor continue. Heaven receives the crucified and risen Son, affirming the completion of His earthly mission and the beginning of His heavenly reign. The disciples must now learn to live by His promise and Spirit, looking upward in hope and outward in mission, until He comes again.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And while he was doing so, he went from them and was taken up into heaven.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and it came to pass, in his blessing them, he was parted from them, and was borne up to the heaven;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And it came to pass, whilst he blessed them, he departed from them and was carried up to heaven.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And it came to pass as he was blessing them, he was separated from them and was carried up into heaven.

Context

Verse 51 completes the narrative of Jesus’ earthly appearances by describing His ascension during the act of blessing (v. 50). This event transitions the disciples from dependence on visible presence to reliance on promise. The following verses (52–53) will show their fitting response: worship, great joy, and continual praise in the temple. The Gospel thus ends not in sorrow at departure but in confident adoration, setting the tone for the church’s life and the coming story of Acts.

v.50And he led them out untilthey were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

v.51This passage

v.52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Hebrews 4:14

    Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

  • John 20:17

    Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.

  • Hebrews 1:3

    who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

  • Acts 1:9

    And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

  • Mark 16:19

    So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

  • 2 Kings 2:11

    And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

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