Verbs in the Lukan Ascension Narratives

Kazuhiko Yamazaki-Ransom yamazakiransom at attbi.com
Fri Nov 8 23:48:43 EST 2002


Greetings to all,

Luke presents the ascension of Christ three times in his narratives: Luke
24:41, Acts 1:2 [in the summary of his gospel], and Acts 1:9.  However, he
uses different verbs to describe the event: ANAFERW [Luke 24:51],
ANALAMBANW [Acts 1:2], and EPAIRW [Acts 1:9].

It seems to me that ANALAMBANW is the standard verb to describe ascension
in the biblical tradition.  It is used in Acts 1:11, Mark 16:9, 1 Timothy
3:16, 2 Kings 2:11 LXX [Elijah’s ascension], 1 Maccabees 2:58 [Elijah],
and Sirach 48:9 [Elijah]; 49:14 [Enoch].  Also, the noun form ANALHMYIS is
used in Luke 9:51 [though some might think that the reference is to the
death of Jesus, not to his ascension].  I am wondering why Luke uses this
verb only in his summary statement and uses other verbs when he actually
describes the event.  Just to avoid redundancy?

My question is twofold: 
1. Why has Luke chosen these verbs in his ascension narratives? 
2. Could anyone give me significant usage of any or all of these three
verbs in the context of ascension or rapture stories in Jewish, Christian
or Hellenistic literature?

Thank you for your insights.

Kazuhiko Yamazaki-Ransom
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Deerfield, IL
USA



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