ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

It would be the number of days for the disciples to walk to a certain mountain in Galilee from Jerusalem (see Matthew 28:7-10 and 16).  They could have gone either through Samaria or walked the banks of the Jordan River.  The mountain they were to go to in Galilee is not listed. By studying map number 11 in my NIV Study Bible 2020 edition, I estimate the walk either way would have been over 150 miles.

Matthew reads as if the 11 apostles started the trip on the day he arose.  Verse 16 in Chapter 28 starts, “Then the Eleven went to Galilee…”.  In verses 18 through 20, Jesus gives them the “Great Commission”.  Also, note there is nothing written in Matthew about his ascension.

ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF MARK

This is difficult to know because the earliest manuscripts of Mark end at verse 8 of Chapter 16 (see any good study Bible). However, if we include verses 9 through 20 of Chapter 16, it seems His ascension would take place the day of his resurrection or shortly thereafter.  “Jesus appeared…. To two while they were walking in the country.” (verse 12). Then “later appeared to the eleven as they were eating…” (verse 14). In verses 15 through 18 Jesus givens them [the eleven] the “Great Commission” and then in verse 19 He ascends. All of this seems to have happened in Jerusalem. There is no trip and no mountain.

ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

Luke’s version seems to be this. In Chapter 24, Jesus arose on the first day of the week (our Sunday). Then “…that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.” (verse 13).  Unknowingly, the two had a conversation with the risen Jesus. As evening approached (remember “evening” or “sundown” starts a new day in Judaism) verse 29, they urged Jesus to stay with them. If Jesus’ “breaking of the bread” with them (verse 30) occurred after the sun went down, then it was a new day according to their culture. If verses 30 through 53 all occurred before the sun went down on the next day, then it would be counted as two days. If any of the events (counting the ascension) occurred after the sun went down on the second day, then it would have been three days.

Also, note in Luke the ascension occurred in Bethany (verse 50) and not on a mountain in Galilee as in Matthew, and neither in Jerusalem as it seems in Mark.

ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Concerning the Gospel of John, trying to discern the number of days between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension is impossible.  Why?  Because in John there is neither a “Great Commission” given nor an ascension happening. John ends with “the disciple whom Jesus loved” following Peter who is following Jesus as they walk away. Moreover, this happens at the Sea of Galilee which is approximately 150 walking miles from both Jerusalem and Bethany.

ACCORDING TO THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

The author of the Acts of the Apostles writes in Chapter 1 verse 3 “…He [Jesus] appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”

Most scholars, ministers and lay people believe the same person wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles (read Luke 1:1-4 and then Acts 1:1-3). Both scriptures are written to a “Theophilus” which may be a particular person or to all Christians in general since the name literally means “one who loves (philus) God (theo)” (see any good study Bible).

However, as I have written about in my discussion of Luke’s Gospel, I read Chapter 24 of Luke as one continuous event and at most just three days. But trust me, I do not claim to be a scholar.

ACCORDING TO FIRST CORINTHAINS

In Chapter 15 of 1st Corinthians, Paul does not give a timeline between Jesus’ resurrection and the ascension, but he does give an order of those to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

In conclusion, after reading these different versions it gives credence to the concept that as one grows wiser, one knows less.  The Hollywood movies tend to reveal Jesus’ life as one connected and consistent presentation of events.  Sadly, for many Christians, the movie is the only history they have ever “read” of His life.  But, as you can see, after reading just the events from His resurrection to His ascension, this is not the case.

I do not write this to belittle or denigrate the Bible at all.  However, I strongly believe we should let the Bible speak for itself and not just what we want it to say.

Mark W. Durm is a Professor Emeritus of Athens State University.