The Community at Jerusalem. The scene of the Ascension was not mentioned before; we hear of it now. Luke 24:50 puts it at Bethany which is (John 11:18) fifteen stades (about 1¾ miles) from Jerusalem; the Mount of Olives (here expressed in one word Elaion, hence, EV properly, Olivet), is less than half that distance. (For the tradition that the Messiah was to appear first on the Mount of Olives, see Ezekiel 11:23; Zechariah 14:4, and cf. Mark 11:1-10 *.) The account is written for people unacquainted with Jerusalem.
Acts 1:13. The upper chamber is probably in a private house; the believers could not be abiding in the Temple. The religious life of the little community is described in phrases which repeatedly occur: with one accord there is complete unanimity among themthey continue steadfastly in prayer; they are directed to one object and know how it is to be secured; only so could the little band prevail who were responsible for the new truth. The women may be the wives of the apostles; D adds and the children, which would point in this direction. Mary, mother of Jesus, was last heard of in Luke 8:19 (but cf. John 19:25-27), and His brothers also. Of them James is heard of afterwards (Galatians 1:19).