THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:
Did Jesus ascend from Bethany or Mount Olivet? Luke 24:50-51 says it was Bethany, but Acts 1:9, 12 says it was Mount Olivet. Is there a contradiction?

RESPONSE:
First, we might note that it was the same writer who wrote both accounts. The book of Luke begins, "Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed." (Luke 1:1-4) The book of Acts is presented as volume II, as the writer begins, "The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:1-3)

Since Luke is the writer of both accounts, it would seem odd that he should contradict himself, as the questioner suggests. Especially in light of the fact that he claimed to have "perfect understanding of all things from the very first". So how do we reconcile the two statements about the location of the ascension?

The key is for the questioner to look at a map and learn about the area before supposing there to be a contradiction. Bethany is a town on the eastern side of Mount Olivet. It is both correct to state that they went as far as Bethany (Luke) and that they returned from Mount Olivet (Acts), for Bethany was on Mount Olivet.

There is no contradiction.

This article is a response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible, but original article is no longer listed

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