Choosing a New 12th
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
*Commentary* Luke tells us in Luke 24:50 that Jesus led them to Bethany, on the Mount of Olives. There he lifted his hands and blessed them. After the ascension, the disciples had to make their trek back to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was about 1.5 miles from the Mount of Olives. A Sabbath Days Walk is what was thought by the Jews as acceptable without breaking the law of the Sabbath. While Ascension Day is generally thought to have been on a Thursday, the 40th day after Easter, Luke only uses the “Sabbath Days Walk” as a term of measurement.
- What was special about the Mount of Olives?
- Why do you think Jesus led his disciples there to witness ascension?