After the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples were staying in Jerusalem, being taught by Jesus. The Lord told them to wait in the city for the Holy Spirit. Luke records, “Now when He had spoken these things, as they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9)
Although scholars do not know the exact spot of Jesus’ ascension, Luke’s Gospel records that Jesus led the disciples “out as far as Bethany” (Luke 24:50) where he ascended. Knowing Bethany is about 1.5 miles east of Jerusalem on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, the ascension must have taken place somewhere on the Mount of Olives. A relatively early tradition placed the spot at the summit. The pilgrim Aetheria (Egeria) speaks of a tradition on Palm Sunday where Christians would travel to the “Inbomon” (the Latinized form of the Greek ἐνβωμῷ, meaning “on the height”) while singing hymns. In a letter written by Jerome, dated to A. D. 404, he refers to the “glistening cross of Mount Olivet from which the Saviour made His ascension to the Father.”1 The Inbomon church has thus been at this site since at least the late fourth century.2 Ancient sources in fact say a woman named Pomnia (Poemenia) sponsored the building of a church at the spot of Jesus’ ascension in A.D. 378, referred to as the Church of the Holy Ascension.3 Excavations by L.H. Vincent in 1913 and Virgilio Corbo in 1959 have confirmed the site of this church. The original plan was an octagonal building with a circular inner colonnade featuring sixteen columns holding up a dome - a common design for "memorial" churches throughout the Levant.4 Corbo found that the original Inbomon/Church of the Holy Ascension was apparently destroyed by the Persians when they invaded Jerusalem in 614, rebuilt soon after, rebuilt again by the Crusaders, and transformed into a mosque by Salah al-Din (Saladin) in 1187, which still stands today.5
Gonzalo Baez-Camargo, Archaeological Commentary on the Bible, (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1984) 236.
Jack Finegan, The Archaeology of the New Testament: The Life of Jesus and the Beginning of the Early Church, (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1992) 165-167.
Jerome, Letter to Eustochium, 12 (NPNF, 2.6:200). ↩︎
Jack Finegan, The Archaeology of the New Testament: The Life of Jesus and the Beginning of the Early Church, (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1992) 167. ↩︎
Peter the Iberian, trans. Richard Raabe, Petrus der Iberer (Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs’sche Buchhandlung, 1895), 35. ↩︎
Jack Finegan, The Archaeology of the New Testament: The Life of Jesus and the Beginning of the Early Church, (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1992) 170. Finegan says Muslims continue to memorialize the ascension of Jesus here because the Qur’an says God “raised him up unto himself” (Surah 4:158). ↩︎
From What Mountain Did Jesus Ascend?
Site Study
| Hershel Wayne House | Mount of Olives
After the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples stayed in Jerusalem and were taught by Jesus. The Lord told them to wait in the city for the Holy Spirit. Luke records, “Now when He had spoken these things, as they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9)
Although scholars do not know the exact spot of Jesus’ ascension, Luke’s Gospel records that Jesus led the disciples “out as far as Bethany” (Luke 24:50) where he ascended. Knowing Bethany is about 1.5 miles east of Jerusalem on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, the ascension must have taken place somewhere on the Mount of Olives. A relatively early tradition placed the spot at the summit. The pilgrim Aetheria (Egeria) speaks of a tradition on Palm Sunday where Christians would travel to the “Inbomon” (the Latinized form of the Greek ἐνβωμῷ, meaning “on the height”) while singing hymns. In a letter written by Jerome, dated to A. D. 404, he refers to the “glistening cross of Mount Olivet from which the Saviour made His ascension to the Father.” The Inbomon church has thus been at this site since at least the late fourth century. Ancient sources, in fact, say a woman named Pomnia (Poemenia) sponsored the building of a church at the spot of Jesus’ ascension in A.D. 378, referred to as the Church of the Holy Ascension. Excavations by L.H. Vincent in 1913 and Virgilio Corbo in 1959 have confirmed the site of this church. The original plan was an octagonal building with a circular inner colonnade featuring sixteen columns holding up a dome - a common design for "memorial" churches throughout the Levant. Corbo found that the original Inbomon/Church of the Holy Ascension was apparently destroyed by the Persians when they invaded Jerusalem in 614, rebuilt soon after, rebuilt again by the Crusaders, and transformed into a mosque by Salah al-Din (Saladin) in 1187, which still stands today.
Bibliography. Baez-Camargo, Gonzalo, Archaeological Commentary on the Bible (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1984), 236; Finegan, Jack, The Archaeology of the New Testament: The Life of Jesus and the Beginning of the Early Church (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1992), 165-67; Jerome, Letter to Eustochium, 12(NPNF, 2.6:200); Peter the Iberian, trans. Richard Raabe, Petrus der Iberer (Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs’sche Buchhandlung, 1895), 35; Tsafrir, Yoram, "Ancient Churches in the Holy Land," Biblical Archaeology Review 19, (1993): 26-39, accessed April 16, 2012, http://members.bib-arch.org/publication.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=19&Issue=5&ArticleID=8.
Site Study
| Hershel Wayne House
As Jesus traveled the road from Jericho, approaching Jerusalem for the last time, He came to Bethany and Bethphage (Bethpage) “at the Mount of Olives.”
The Mount of Olives is a ridge running north-south, and is east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. It is so named because of the great number of olive trees cultivated on terraces there to this day. It is about 2.5 miles long and has three peaks: Mount Scopus, et-Tur (where the Russian Orthodox Monastery of the Ascension and its prominent tower are located), and the Mount of Corruption (or Mount of Offense) located at the southern end of the valley opposite the City of David. Mount Scopus rises to 2,690 feet above sea level.
The Mount of Olives was the location of several important sites with regard to the New Testament. Already mentioned are Bethany and Bethphage. Jesus taught His disciples at a private place somewhere on the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane is located on the slope of the Mount. Tradition also locates Jesus’ ascension at the summit of the ridge, although the Scriptures indicate He ascended from a place near Bethany, on the east slope of the Mount of Olives. In Zechariah, the prophet says when Jesus returns the Mount will split in two east to west and allow a river to run from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea (Zech 14:4).
Many churches are found on the Mount of Olives, commemorating the events that took place there including: the Dominus Flevit (commemorating Jesus’ weeping over Jerusalem), the Basilica of Agony (also called the Church of All Nations), built on the site of an ancient Byzantine church memorializing the place where Jesus prayed and was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Chapel of Ascension, a mosque that was built over a very early Byzantine church and the Pater Noster church, built on the foundations of the fourth-century Eleona Church which itself was built over the cave that is the traditional place where Jesus gave the disciples the “Our Father” prayer.
1Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 2The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people.
3Satan entered into Judas, who was also called Iscariot, who was counted with the twelve. 4He went away and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. 5They were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6He consented and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude.
7The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
9They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare?”
10He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters. 11Tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.”
13They went, found things as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
14When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles. 15He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in God’s Kingdom.”17He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves, 18for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until God’s Kingdom comes.”
19He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.”20Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22The Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!”
23They began to question among themselves which of them it was who would do this thing.
24A dispute also arose among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. 25He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26But not so with you. Rather, the one who is greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. 27For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
28“But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. 29I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, 30that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
31The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have all of you, that he might sift you as wheat, 32but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.”
33He said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”
34He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times.”
35He said to them, “When I sent you out without purse, bag, and sandals, did you lack anything?”
They said, “Nothing.”
36Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a bag. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 37For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’For that which concerns me is being fulfilled.”
38They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.”
He said to them, “That is enough.”
39He came out and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. 40When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”
41He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, 42saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
45When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, 46and said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
47While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared. He who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. 48But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51But Jesus answered, “Let me at least do this”—and he touched his ear and healed him. 52Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn’t stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
54They seized him and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed from a distance. 55When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
57He denied Jesus, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him.”
58After a little while someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them!”
But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”
59After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!”
60But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.”62He went out, and wept bitterly.
63The men who held Jesus mocked him and beat him. 64Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?” 65They spoke many other things against him, insulting him.
66As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people were gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying, 67“If you are the Christ, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe, 68and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go. 69From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
70They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He said to them, “You say it, because I am.”
71They said, “Why do we need any more witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth!”