When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
Parallel translations
- WEB He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
- KJV And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
- NKJV And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
- NASB And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
- NLT Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus leads the disciples out toward Bethany and blesses them with lifted hands. His final act on earth is one of priestly blessing.
Overview
Bringing the disciples out as far as Bethany, Jesus lifts his hands and blesses them, a gesture echoing the priestly benediction. The risen Lord departs not in judgment but in grace, conferring blessing on his people. This priestly act points to Christ as the great High Priest who ever intercedes for those he loves.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Acts 1:12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
- Gen 49:28These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this was what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.
- Matt 21:17Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.
- Mark 11:1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples
- Num 6:23–27“Tell Aaron and his sons: This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
- Heb 7:5–7Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.
- Gen 27:4Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”
- Gen 48:9Joseph said to his father, “They are the sons God has given me in this place.” So Jacob said, “Please bring them to me, that I may bless them.”
- Mark 10:16And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
- Gen 14:18–20Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 24:50 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.