Acts 1 · Verse 12

Acts 1:12

Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
Acts 1:12, King James Version

Acts 1:12 in other translations

BSBThen they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
WEBThen they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
ASVThen returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey off.
YLTThen did they return to Jerusalem from the mount that is called of Olives, that is near Jerusalem, a sabbath's journey;
DARBYThen they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath-day's journey off.
BBEThen they went back to Jerusalem from the mountain named Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.
WebsterThen they returned to Jerusalem, from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

What does Acts 1:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 1:12-14

Ac 1:12-26. Return of the Eleven to Jerusalem--Proceedings in the Upper Room till Pentecost.

12-14. a sabbath day's journey--about two thousand cubits.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Then returned they unto Jerusalem. In Lk 24:52, we are told that they worshipped Jesus before they returned. And it is probable that the act of worship to which he refers, was that which is mentioned in this chapter--their gazing intently on their departing Lord.

From the mount called Olivet. From the Mount of Olives. Mt 21:1. The part of the mountain from which he ascended was the eastern declivity, where stood the little village of Bethany, Lk 24:50.

A sabbath day's journey. As far as might be lawfully travelled by a Jew on the Sabbath. This was two thousand paces or cubits; or seven furlongs and a half--not quite one mile. Mt 24:20. The distance of a lawful journey on the Sabbath was not determined by the laws of Moses, but the Jewish teachers had fixed it at two thousand paces. This measure was determined on because it was a tradition, that in the camp of the Israelites when coming from Egypt, no part of the camp was more than two thousand paces from the tabernacle; and over this space, therefore, they were permitted to travel for worship. Perhaps, also, some countenance was given to this from the fact that this was the extent of the suburbs of the Levitical cities, Nu 35:5. Mount Olivet was but five furlongs from Jerusalem, and Bethany was fifteen furlongs. But on the eastern declivity of the mountain the tract of country was called, for a considerable space, the region of Bethany; and it was from this place that the Lord Jesus ascended.

(d) "Then returned they" Lk 24:52.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 A Sabbath day's journey - See the difficulties in this verse explained in the note on Luk 24:50 (note). A Sabbath day's journey was seven furlongs and a half. Olivet was but five furlongs from Jerusalem; and Bethany was fifteen. The first region or tract of Mount Olivet, which was called Bethany, was distant from the city a Sabbath day's journey, or seven furlongs and a half; and the same distance did that tract called Bethphage extend from the city. When, therefore; our Lord came to the place where these two tracts touched each other, he there ascended, which place was distant from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey, as St. Luke here remarks. See the notes referred to above.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 1:12-14
God can find hiding-places for his people. They made supplication. All God's people are praying people. It was now a time of trouble and danger with the disciples of Christ; but if any is afflicted, let him pray; that will silence cares and fears. They had now a great work to do, and before they entered upon it, they were earnest in prayer to God for his presence. They were waiting for the descent of the Spirit, and abounded in prayer. Those are in the best frame to receive spiritual blessings, who are in a praying frame. Christ had promised shortly to send the Holy Ghost; that promise was not to do away prayer, but to quicken and encourage it. A little company united in love, exemplary in their conduct, fervent in prayer, and wisely zealous to promote the cause of Christ, are likely to increase rapidly.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 1:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤότεToteThenG5119
ὑπέστρεψανhupestrepsanthey returnedG5290
εἰςeistoG1519
ἸερουσαλὴμIerousalēmJerusalemG2419
ἀπὸapofromG575
ὄρουςorous[the] mountG3735
τοῦtouwhichG3588
καλουμένουkaloumenouis being calledG2564
Ἐλαιῶνος,ElaiōnosOlivet,G1638
ὅhowhichG3739
ἐστινestinisG1510
ἐγγὺςengusnearG1451
ἸερουσαλὴμIerousalēmJerusalemG2419
σαββάτουsabbatoua Sabbath day’sG4521
ἔχονechonholdingG2192
ὁδόν.hodonjourney.G3598

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 1:12

  • Luke 24:52

    And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

  • Matthew 21:1

    And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

  • Luke 24:50

    And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

  • Luke 21:37

    And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

  • Zechariah 14:4

    And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

  • Matthew 26:30

    And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

  • Matthew 24:3

    And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

  • John 11:18

    Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
from.
Zec 14:4; Mt 21:1; 24:3; 26:30; Lu 21:37; 24:52
a sabbath.
Lu 24:50; Joh 11:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 1:11

    Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

  • Acts 1:12

    Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.

  • Acts 1:13

    And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

Read all of Acts 1

Acts 1:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces se volvieron á Jerusalem del monte que se llama del Olivar, el cual está cerca de Jerusalem camino de un sábado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors ils s’en retournèrent à Jérusalem, de la montagne appelée des Oliviers, qui est près de Jérusalem, le chemin d’un sabbat.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da kehrten sie nach Jerusalem zurück von dem Berge, welcher Ölberg heißt, der nahe bei Jerusalem ist, einen Sabbathweg entfernt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc reversi sunt Jerosolymam a monte qui vocatur Oliveti, qui est juxta Jerusalem, sabbati habens iter.