Luk 9:51 | NETfull | STEP | Now when the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set out resolutely to go to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51

Rejection in Samaria

51 Now when ^{▼▼ Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.} the days drew near ^{▼▼ Grk “the days were being fulfilled.” There is literary design here. This starts what has been called in the Gospel of Luke the “Jerusalem Journey.” It is not a straight-line trip, but a journey to meet his fate (Luke 13:31–35).} for him to be taken up, ^{▼▼ Taken up is a reference to Jesus’ upcoming return to heaven by crucifixion and resurrection (compare Luke 9:31). This term was used in the LXX of Elijah’s departure in 2 Kgs 2:9.} Jesus ^{▼▼ Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} set out resolutely ^{▼▼ Grk “he set his face,” a Semitic idiom that speaks of a firm, unshakable resolve to do something (Gen 31:21; Isa 50:7).} to go to Jerusalem. ^{▼▼ For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; Journey of Paul map 1-F4; Journey of Paul map 2-F4; Journey of Paul map 3-F4; Journey of Paul map 4-F4.}