offered the offerings for them, (Lev. ix 22.) so Christ as the great High Priest, navisg offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of His people, lifted up His hands toward them and hlessed them in an authoritatiye way."
51. — [He was parted from them.'] The Greek word so rendered is somewhat remarkable. It signifies literally, " stood apart." A German commentator thinks it means " He went a little dis- tance from them previous to His ascension." The more common opinion is that the word is only a part of the same incident which is described when it says He was " carried up into heaven."
[Carried up into heaven.'] Where our Lord's bodj went when so canied up, is an unprofitable speculation. Let it be enough for us to remember that He went into the presence of God for us, and that He will come again exactly in like manner as He went. (Acts i. 11.)
Burgon remarks, " These beautiful words denote that Jesus was rather taken away from the men He loved, than that by an act of His own He left them. For His passion, it is said, that He was impatient; (Luke xii. 50.) — for His ascension, not so. He did not leave His disciples, but was parted from them."
52. — [They worshipped him.] This is the first formal act of adora- tion which we ever read of the disciples paying to our Lord. Their knowledge of His Messiahship and divinity was now clear and distinct. Hence came the '* joy " which the verse mentions that they felt. All things were now clear and plain to them concemmg their Master. The darkness was past, and the true light shone. (1 John ii. 8.)
53. — [Continually in the temple.] This expression does not neces- sarily mean that the disciples were never anywhere else except in the temple. It only means that they made a daily, regular habit of attending the temple services and assembling in the temple courts, and specially at the times of prayer. (Acts iii. 1.) It is the same Greek word used about Cornelius, where it says, that " he prayed to God alway." (Acts x. 2.)
The temple, be it remembered, was a place of resort for all pious Jews in Jerusalem, and in its spacious courts all sorts of worshippers met daily without interruption, or interference with one another. Even of the apostles it is said, that " daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." (Acts v. 42.) It seems to have been such an established custom for all religious-minded persons to assemble in the temple, that the apostles could even preach the Gospel there.
Maldonatus remarks, "that it is a striking fact that St. Luke's Gospel begins by describing a scene in the temple, when Zacha- rias had his vision, and tuso leaves us in the temple, when it concludes."
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