24:50–53 Having given them his final commission, which will be repeated in Acts 1:4–8, Jesus led his disciples out to the vicinity of Bethany (about a mile and a half from Jerusalem) and lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. Although this last phrase is omitted in two manuscripts, many other old manuscripts, among them the very oldest, do include it, and so it is probably best to regard it as an original part of the account. Even without it the meaning is scarcely changed, for the account of the ascension in Acts 1:9–11 confirms that Luke had a departure via ascension in mind, an idea which was probably in mind since the beginning of the journey to Jerusalem in 9:51 (see note there).

Now at last the disciples fully under…