Disciples Watched Jesus Ascend to Heaven
A Methodist pastor named Adam Hamilton declared in 2026 that the Bible is full of errors. Then he gave his main example and claimed that the gospel of Matthew says Jesus ascended to heaven from Galilee but Luke said He ascended from the Mount of Olives.1 So, the question that we will explore is “Did Jesus ascend to heaven from Galilee or the Mount of Olives?” We will examine all four gospels and the book of Acts in the Bible and discover what they reveal. Do they contradict each other?
The ascension of Christ took place forty days after His resurrection. The gospels and the book of Acts report that Jesus was with His disciples on the last day He stood upon the earth. After He had given them His final instructions, He raised His hands and blessed them, and ascended up to heaven. So, do Matthew and Luke contradict each other?
Matthew and the Ascension of Christ
Matthew 28:16-20 records the final words about Christ in the gospel of Matthew. Here is the passage,
But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20 (NASB)
Verse 16 states that Jesus was with the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee. Judas was dead at this point. We are told Jesus had commanded the disciples to meet Him on that mountain, but notice that Matthew does not give the name of the mountain. It is more important to notice that the ascension of Christ is not described in this passage. In fact, the gospel of Matthew does not record many things mentioned in the other gospels after Jesus’ resurrection. This is common between the gospels since each writer was led by the Holy Spirit as to what each one should write. So, each gospel has a different emphasis and includes and excludes differing information.
The main point about the gospel of Matthew is that it does not provide any information about the ascension of Christ. Therefore, the Methodist pastor is in error when he claimed that Matthew referred to the ascension of Christ because it is impossible for Matthew to disagree with the gospel of Luke, as we will soon discover.
Mark and the Ascension of Christ
Mark 16:19 is the only verse in the last chapter of Mark that refers to the ascension of Christ.
So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. Mark 16:19 (NASB)
There is only one more verse in this chapter in Mark. We should note in Mark 16:19 that we are told Jesus spoke to them. According to verse 16, the “them” was the eleven, that is, the eleven disciples. Verse 19 is the only verse in Mark 16 that mentions the ascension of Christ. Mark does not describe a mountain nor a location. Therefore, Mark cannot and does not disagree with Matthew.
Luke and the Ascension of Christ
Luke 24:50-53 are the last verses of the gospel of Luke. They refer to the ascension of Christ.
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God. Luke 24:50-53 (NASB)
Immediately, we are told in verse 50 that Jesus had led the disciples as far as Bethany. Bethany was on the east side of the Mount of Olives and two miles from the city of Jerusalem. Then the rest of the passage reveals that while Jesus was blessing them, He ascended to heaven. Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem. The passage does not mention Galilee. But from where did Jesus ascend into heaven? The answer is the Mount of Olives. Luke is the only gospel that gives us that fact.
In summary, it is clear that we only know Jesus and the disciples were either on the east side of the Mount of Olives or on the eastern slope of the mountain. Now we must notice that Matthew did not mention the ascension of Christ, but Luke does. Matthew does not refer to a city, but Luke does. The point is that we cannot know if Matthew and Luke are describing the same event for the descriptions are different. Therefore, it is not possible to claim that there is an error between the account of Matthew and Luke, or Mark.
John and the Ascension of Christ
There are no verses in the gospel of John that describe Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Therefore, it is not possible for Matthew, Mark, and Luke to disagree with John.
Acts and the Ascension of Christ
The book of Acts has the last description of the ascension of Jesus to heaven. It is found in chapter 1 and verses 9-11.
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “ Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11 (NASB)
Here we are told that after Jesus had spoken to the disciples, He was lifted up to heaven. Matthew does not disagree with this passage because it does not describe the ascension. Mark does not disagree with Matthew, Luke, John, or Acts because it only says, “He was received up into heaven.” It does add information that Acts does not include. Luke adds that Jesus was blessing them as He was taken to heaven. There are no conflicts between any of the gospels and the book of Acts regarding the ascension of Christ to heaven.
Conclusion
So, the Methodist pastor is wrong. He assumed facts that are not given to us. There is no contradiction between Matthew and Luke, or with Mark, John, and Acts. He envisioned a contradiction that does not exist.
References:
1. Hannah Knudsen. Kansas Democrat Senate Frontrunner and Methodist Pastor: Bible Is Full of Errors. Breitbart. 20 Jul 2026.