Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 24:51

51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

This must be understood to have happened forty days after our Saviour's Resurrection, for so Luke himself tells us, Acts 1.3. then he led them out as far as Bethany, not the Village Bethany, but that part of the Mount of Olives, which belonged to Bethany. Our Saviour had been often there praying, from thence, he now ascendeth into Heaven, and l[illegible: 1 letter]fted up his Hands and blessed them. Some think that by Blessing, here is meant Praying; and the lifting up of his Hands, was accommodated to that religious Action. Others think that Blessing here signifieth a more Authoritative Act; and that his lifting up of his Hands, was a stretching out of his Hands, as a sign of that effectual Blessing of them. While he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up to Heaven, that is, he moved upward, as if he had been carried, for it is certain that our Saviour ascended by his own Power. Luke saith, Acts 1.9. He was taken up and a Cloud received him out of [illegible: 1 letter]heir sight, as Elijah, 2 Kings 2.11. Went up to Heaven in a Whirle-wind. So Christ went up in a Cloud, but with this difference Christ ascended by his own power, Elijah could not without the help of an Angel.

Marginal references: Mark 16.19: