impressed with those things of which he had long before warned them, while they were still in the enjoyment of his daily teachings. Being now about to bid them farewell,—lest by entirely cutting off their present hope, he might for a time overwhelm them,—he so moderated his answer, as not to extinguish utterly all hope of the kingdom expected by them, nor yet give them reason to think that such a dominion as they hoped for, was to be established. He therefore, to their inquiries whether he would at that time restore the ancient kingdom of Israel, replied that it was not for them to know the times which the Father had reserved in his own counsels, for the completion of that event. But he went on to inform them of something which was for them to know. "You shall receive power, when the Holy Ghost shall have come upon you; and you shall be witnesses of these things for me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and even to the farthest parts of the earth." And when he had spoken these things, he was taken away from them as they were looking at him, for a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked earnestly towards heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, and said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven." They now understood that they had parted from their loved Master forever, in earthly form; yet the consolations afforded by this last promise of the attendant spirits, were neither few nor small. To bring about that bright return, in whose glories they were to share, was the great task to which they devoted their lives; and they went back to Jerusalem, sorrowful indeed for the removal of their great guide and friend, but not sorrowing as those who have no hope.
To Bethany.—This place was on the Mount of Olives, probably near its summit,
and perhaps within sight of Jerusalem. See notes on pp. 90 and 95.
Here ceased their course of instruction under their Divine Master;
laying down their character as Disciples, they now took up
the higher dignity, responsibility and labors of Apostles. Here too
ceases the record of "Peter's discipleship;"—no longer a
learner and follower of any one on earth, he is exalted to the new
duties and dangers of the Apostleship, of which the still more
interesting story here begins; and he must henceforth bear the
new character and title of "Peter the teacher and leader."
