A Sabbath Day's Journey

In Acts, Luke states that the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mont des Oliviers — afficher la définition INF305, which is:

“near Jerusalem, a sabbat — afficher la définition INF089 day's journey” (Acts 1.12).

The “sabbat — afficher la définition INF089 day's journey” was the maximum distance that Jewish tradition allowed a person to walk on the sabbat — afficher la définition INF089. This distance was about 2,000 cubits, that is, between 800 and 1,100 meters depending on the measurements adopted. The generally accepted value is about 900 meters.

The ascension therefore took place at a distance of less than or close to one kilometer from Jerusalem. This fits perfectly with the mont des Oliviers — afficher la définition INF305, whose western summit is separated from the city only by the Kidron Valley.

It should also be noted that Luke 24.50 states that Jesus led his disciples “out as far as Bethany” (Luke 24.50). Now the village of Bethany itself was about 15 stadia from Jerusalem, nearly 2.8 km (John 11.18). It is therefore likely that the ascension did not take place in the village of Bethany itself, but on the eastern slope of the mont des Oliviers — afficher la définition INF305, in the direction of Bethany, in an intermediate area less than a kilometer from Jerusalem.

Thus, Luke's two indications can be harmonized:

• general location: the mont des Oliviers — afficher la définition INF305;
• direction: toward Bethany;
• distance from Jerusalem: about 800 to 1,000 meters (Acts 1.12).

Several exegetes moreover consider that the traditional site of the ascension, located on the summit of the mont des Oliviers — afficher la définition INF305, corresponds fairly well to this indication given by Luke.