From where did Christ ascend: Bethany or Olivet?
Luke records that the Lord went into Heaven from a place as far as to Bethany or over against Bethany. “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.” (Lk. 24:50) However, Luke also records that upon the Lord’s ascension, the disciples returned unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet. “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 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. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.” (Acts 1:9-12) Notice that Luke in Acts does not say from which side of the Mount of Olives the Lord ascended. Now, on the western side of the mountain, it was a Sabbath’s Day journey from Jerusalem. However, on the eastern side of the mountain, the road leads down to Bethany, “over against Bethany” which means in the direction of Bethany. The return trip of the apostles to Jerusalem would take them back over the mountain from the eastern side of the mountain where they could see Bethany to the western side of the mountain where Jerusalem was. Robert Notgrass