SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ASCENSION

There are a number of different Greek words used to describe Jesus' ascension back to heaven:

1. Acts 1:2,11,22; analambanō, to take up (cf. 1 Tim. 3:16), which is also used in the Septuagint of 2 Kgs. 2:9,11 for Elijah's translation to heaven and also I Maccabees 2:58

2. Acts 1:9, epairō, to lift up, to raise up, to elevate

3. Luke 9:51, analēpsis (form of #1)

4. Luke 24:51, diistēmi, to depart

5. John 6:62, anabainō, to ascend

This event is not recorded in Matthew or Mark's Gospel. Mark's Gospel ends at 16:8, but one of the three later scribal addition describes the event in 16:19 (i.e., analambanō).