And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Parallel translations
- WEB It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem,
- BSB As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
- NKJV Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,
- NASB When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;
- NLT As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
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
As the time draws near for His ascension, Jesus resolutely sets His face toward Jerusalem. He deliberately moves toward the cross to accomplish His mission.
Overview
This verse marks a major turning point, beginning Jesus' long journey to Jerusalem in Luke's Gospel. The phrase "set his face" conveys steadfast determination to fulfill the Father's plan. Jesus goes knowingly toward suffering and death, and ultimately His being taken up, out of love and obedience for the redemption of His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 27
- Isa 50:5–9The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
- Luke 18:31Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
- Luke 13:22And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
- Mark 16:19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
- Acts 20:22–24And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
- John 17:11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
- Heb 12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- John 6:62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
- Acts 1:2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
- Eph 4:8–11Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
- Acts 1:9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
- John 16:5But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
- Heb 6:20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- John 16:28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
- Luke 19:28And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
- Eph 1:20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
- 1 Tim 3:16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
- Acts 21:11–14And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
- Luke 17:11And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
- 2 Kgs 2:11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
- Luke 24:51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
- Luke 12:50But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
- 2 Kgs 2:1–3And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
- Luke 19:11And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
- Phil 3:14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
- John 13:1Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
- 1 Pet 3:22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
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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 9:51 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
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