Acts 1:12 - Exposition

Nigh unto for from, A.V.; journey off for journey, A.V. Olivet , from the Vulgate Olivetum. The particular Greek form ἐλαιὼν , Elaeon, occurs in the New Testament only here. In Luke 19:29 ; Luke 21:37 , according to the T.R., and that followed in the R.V., it is ἐλαιῶν , of Olives. But as St. Luke usually has τὸ ὄρος τῶν ἐλαιῶν when he speaks of it as "the Mount of Olives" ( Luke 19:37 ; Luke 22:39 ), and as here he calls it Elaeon, which is its name in Josephus ('Jud. Ant.,' Luke 7:9 , Luke 7:2 ; see too Luke 20:8 , Luke 20:6 ), it seems probable that in Luke 19:29 ; Luke 21:27 , we ought to read, with Lachmann and Tischendorf (see Meyer on Luke 19:29 ), ἐλαιὼν , Elaeon, Olivet. In the Old Testament, in 2 Samuel 15:30 , it is "the ascent of the Olives" (A.V., "the ascent of Mount Olivet"); in Zechariah 14:4 , "the Mount of Olives." A sabbath day's journey off; i.e. six, or according to Schleusner, seven and a half, furlongs (or two thousand cubits). Josephus ('Jud. Ant.,' 20:8, 6) calls it "five furlongs," but he only measured to the foot of the hill, whereas St. Luke gives the distance from the spot whence Christ ascended. Bethany itself, according to John 11:18 , was fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem.