Beda. Praetermissis omnibus quae per quadraginta dies agi a domino cum discipulis potuerunt, primo diei resurrectionis eius coniungit tacite novissimum diem quo ascendit in caelum, dicens eduxit autem eos foras in Bethaniam. Primo quidem propter nomen civitatis, quae domus obedientiae dicitur: qui enim propter inobedientiam perversorum descendit, propter obedientiam conversorum ascendit. Deinde propter situm eiusmodi villae, quae in latere montis olivarum posita esse narratur: quia videlicet obedientis Ecclesiae domus in ipsius summi montis, idest in Christi, latere, fidei, spei dilectionisque suae fundamenta locavit. Eos autem benedicit, quibus praecepta docendi tradiderat; unde sequitur et elevatis manibus suis benedixit eis.
BEDE; Having omitted all those things which may have taken place during forty-three days between our Lord and His disciples, St. Luke silently joins to the first day of the resurrection, the last day when He ascended into heaven, saying, And he led them out as far as to Bethany. First, indeed, because of the name of the place, which signifies “the house of obedience.” For He who descended because of the disobedience of the wicked, ascended because of the obedience of the converted. Next, because of the situation of the same village, which is said to be placed on the side of the mount of Olives; because He has placed the foundations, as it were, of the house of the obedient Church, of faith, hope, and love, in the side of that highest mountain, namely, Christ. But He blessed them to whom He had delivered the precepts of His teaching; hence it follows, And he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
Theophylactus. Forsan vim conservativam influens eis usque ad adventum spiritus; et fortassis instruens nos, ut quoties recedimus, benedictionibus subditos Dei commendemus.
THEOPHYL. Perhaps pouring into them a power of preservation, until the coming of the Spirit; and perhaps instructing them, that as often as we go away, we should commend to God by our blessing those who are placed under us.
Origenes. Quod autem elevatis manibus benedixit eos, significat quod deceat benedicentem cuiquam ornatum esse variis operibus et arduis respectu aliorum: sic enim manus tolluntur in altum.
ORIGEN; But that He blessed them with uplifted hands, signifies that it becomes him who blesses any one to be furnished with various works and labors in behalf of others. For in this way are the hands raised up on high.
Chrysostomus. Attende autem, quod dominus bravia repromissa aspectui subicit. Promiserat quidem corporum resurrectionem: a mortuis resurrexit, et per quadraginta dies discipulos certificat. Promittitur etiam, quod in nubibus rapiemur in aera; et hoc ipse patefecit per opera; sequitur enim et factum est dum benediceret illis, recessit ab eis, et ferebatur in caelum.
CHRYS. But observe, that the Lord submits to our sight the promised rewards. He had promised the resurrection of the body; He rose from the dead, and conferred with His disciples for forty days. It is also promised that we shall be caught up in the clouds through the air; this also He made manifest by His works. For it follows, And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted, &c.
Theophylactus. Et Elias quidem videbatur quasi assumi in caelum; sed salvator ipse praecursor omnium ascendit in caelum, appariturus divino conspectui in sacro suo corpore: et iam nostra natura in Christo honoratur a qualibet virtute angelica.
THEOPHYL. And Elias indeed was seen, as it were, to be taken up into heaven, but the Savior, the forerunner of all, Himself ascended into heaven to appear in the Divine sight in His sacred body; and already is our nature honored in Christ by a certain Angelic power.
Chrysostomus. Sed dices: quid interest mea? Quia et tu in nubibus suscipieris similiter: nam corpus tuum connaturale est illi corpori. Erit igitur et corpus tuum tam agile ut possit transire per aera; nam sicut caput, sic et corpus; sicut principium, sic et finis. Aspice autem quomodo honoratus es per hoc principium. Infima pars rationalis creaturae homo erat; sed pedes effecti sunt caput, sublimati in regiam sedem in suo capite.
CHRYS. But you will say, How does this concern me? Because you also shall be taken up in like manner into the clouds. For your body is of like nature to His body, therefore shall your body be so light, that it can pass through the air. For as is the head, so also is the body; as the beginning, so also the end. See then how you are honored by this beginning. Man was the lowest part of the rational creation, but the feet have been made the head, being lifted up aloft into the royal throne in their head.
Beda. Ascendente autem in caelum domino, discipuli adorantes ubi steterunt novissime pedes eius, confestim Hierosolymam redeunt, ubi promissionem patris sunt expectare praecepti; sequitur enim et ipsi adorantes regressi sunt in Ierusalem cum gaudio magno. Gaudia magna agunt, quia Deum ac dominum suum post triumphum resurrectionis etiam caelos penetrasse laetantur.
BEDE; When the Lord ascended into heaven, the disciples adoring Him where His feet lately stood, immediately return to Jerusalem, where they were commanded to wait for the promise of the Father, for it follows, And they worshipped him, and returned, &c. Great indeed was their joy, for they rejoice that their God and Lord after the triumph of His resurrection had also passed into the heavens.
Graecus. Et erant vigilantes: non degentes in propriis Laribus, sed expectantes supernam gratiam conversantur in templo, inter cetera etiam loci honestatem adicientes; unde dicitur et erant semper in templo.
GREEK EX. And they were watching, praying, and fasting, because indeed they were not living in their own homes, but were abiding in the temple, expecting the grace from on high; among other things also learning from the very place piety and honesty. Hence it is said, And were continually in the temple.
Theophylactus. Nondum aderat spiritus, et iam spiritualiter conversantur: prius erant reclusi, iam stant in medio principum sacerdotum, nec aliquo distrahuntur mundano, sed omnibus contemptis iugiter Deum laudant; sequitur enim laudantes et benedicentes Deum.
THEOPHYL. The Spirit had not yet come, and yet their conversation is spiritual. Before they were shut up; now they stand in the midst of the chief priests; distracted by no worldly object, but despising all things, they praise God continually; as it follows, Praising and blessing God.
Beda. Et attende, quod Lucas inter quatuor animalia caeli designatus accipitur per vitulum; cuius victima, qui in sacerdotium eligebantur, initiari sunt iussi, eo quod ipse sacerdotium Christi ceteris amplius exponendum suscepit; et Evangelium suum, quod a ministerio templi per sacerdotium Zachariae coepit, in templi devotione complevit: et apostolos ibi ministros novi sacerdotii futuros, non in victimarum sanguine, sed in laude Dei et in benedictione conclusit: ut in loco orationis et inter laudum devotiones promissum spiritus sancti adventum paratis cordibus expectent.
BEDE; And observe that among the four beasts in heaven, Luke is said to be represented by the calf, for by the sacrifice of a calf, they were ordered to be initiated who were chosen to the priesthood; and Luke has undertaken to explain more fully than the rest the priesthood of Christ; and his Gospel, which he commenced with the ministry of the temple in the priesthood of Zacharias, he has finished with the devotion in the temple. And he has placed the Apostles there, about to be the ministers of a new priesthood, not in the blood of sacrifices, but in the praises of God and in blessing, that in the place of prayer and amidst the praises of their devotion, they might wait with prepared hearts for the promise of the Spirit.
Theophylactus. Quos nos imitantes, in sacra vita semper degamus, laudantes et benedicentes Deum, cui est gloria et benedictio et virtus in saecula. Amen.
THEOPHYL. Whom imitating, may we ever dwell in a holy life, praising and blessing God; to Whom be glory and blessing and power, for ever and ever. Amen.