Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, October 8th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Acts 1:9

After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ascension;   Jesus, the Christ;   Power;   Translation;   Scofield Reference Index - Bible Prayers;   Christ;   Holy Spirit;   Inspiration;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ascension of Christ;   Christ;   The Topic Concordance - Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ;   Witness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Apostles, the;   Ascension of Christ, the;   Cloud of Glory;   Miracles of Christ, the;   Prophecies Respecting Christ;   Resurrection of Christ, the;   Second Coming of Christ, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ascension;   Barsabas;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Death;   Jerusalem;   Jesus christ;   Millennium;   Philip;   Resurrection;   Thomas;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Ascension of Jesus Christ;   Cloud, Cloud of the Lord;   Jesus Christ;   Miracle;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ascension of Christ;   Commentary;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cloud;   Resurrection of Christ;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bethany;   Bow;   Manoah;   Olives, Mount of;   Shechinah;   Temple;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Apostles;   Ascension;   Ascension of Christ;   Church;   Cloud;   Clouds;   Olives, Mount of;   Olivet Discourse, the;   Resurrection of Jesus Christ;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ascension;   Mark, Gospel According to;   Prayer;   Thessalonians, Second Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Ascension;   Ascension (2);   Body (2);   Cloud;   Cloud ;   Eye;   Mount, Mountain ;   Olivet ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ascension;   Cloud;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Mount olivet;   Theophilus;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Olives;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Ascension of Christ;   Moses;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ascension;   Christ, the Exaltation of;   Cloud;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - New Testament;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for October 12;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
After saying this, he was taken up to heaven, and a cloud moved in between the cowboys and Jesus.
Legacy Standard Bible
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.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
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.
Bible in Basic English
And when he had said these things, while they were looking, he was taken up, and went from their view into a cloud.
Darby Translation
And having said these things he was taken up, they beholding [him], and a cloud received him out of their sight.
New King James Version
Mark 16:19,20; Luke 24:50-53">[xr] Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Christian Standard Bible®
After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.
World English Bible
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And having spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him from their sight.
Weymouth's New Testament
When He had said this, and while they were looking at Him, He was carried up, and a cloud closing beneath Him hid Him from their sight.
King James Version (1611)
And when hee had spoken these things, while they beheld, hee was taken vp, and a cloud receiued him out of their sight.
Literal Translation
And saying these things, as they looked on, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him from their sight.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And whan he had spoken these thinges, whyle they behelde, he was taken vp, and a cloude receaued him from their sight.
Mace New Testament (1729)
After this discourse, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
THE MESSAGE
These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, "You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left."
Amplified Bible
And after He said these things, He was caught up as they looked on, and a cloud took Him up out of their sight.
American Standard Version
And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Revised Standard Version
And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And when he had spoken these thinges whyll they behelde he was take vp and a cloude receaved him vp out of their sight.
Update Bible Version
And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Webster's Bible Translation
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Young's Literal Translation
And these things having said -- they beholding -- he was taken up, and a cloud did receive him up from their sight;
New Century Version
After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
New English Translation
After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight.
Berean Standard Bible
After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
Complete Jewish Bible
After saying this, he was taken up before their eyes; and a cloud hid him from their sight.
English Standard Version
And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when he had spoken these things, while they behelde, he was taken vp: for a cloude tooke him vp out of their sight.
George Lamsa Translation
And when he had spoken these things, he ascended while they were looking at him; a cloud * received him and he was hidden from their sight.
Hebrew Names Version
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
International Standard Version
After saying this, he was taken up while they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight.Luke 24:51; John 6:62; Acts 6:2;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And as these he said, while they beheld him, he was taken up, and the cloud received him, and he was covered from their eyes.
Murdock Translation
And when he had said these things, while they beheld him, he was taken up, and a cloud received him, and he was hidden from their eyes.
New Living Translation
After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.
New Life Bible
When Jesus had said this and while they were still looking at Him, He was taken up. A cloud carried Him away so they could not see Him.
English Revised Version
And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
New Revised Standard
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And having said these things, as they were beholding, he was lifted up, and a cloud caught him away from their eyes.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.
King James Version
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Lexham English Bible
And after he had said these things, while they were watching, he was taken up, and a cloud received him from their sight.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when he had spoken these thynges, whyle they behelde, he was taken vp an hye, and a cloude receaued hym vp out of their syght.
Easy-to-Read Version
After Jesus said this, he was lifted up into the sky. While they were watching, he went into a cloud, and they could not see him.
New American Standard Bible
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight.
Good News Translation
After saying this, he was taken up to heaven as they watched him, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne he had seid these thingis, in her siyt he was lift vp, and a cloude resseyuede him fro her iyen.

Contextual Overview

6 While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, "Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?" 7 Jesus said to them, "You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. 8 But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world." 9 After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, 10 but as he went up, they kept looking up into the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing there beside them. 11 They said, "Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: Acts 1:2, Psalms 68:18, Mark 16:19, Luke 24:50, Luke 24:51, John 6:62, Ephesians 4:8-12

a cloud: Exodus 19:9, Exodus 34:5, Isaiah 19:1, Daniel 7:13, Luke 21:27, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 11:12, Revelation 14:4

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 11:7 - the hill 2 Kings 2:1 - take up 2 Kings 2:10 - if thou see 2 Kings 2:12 - he saw him Matthew 9:15 - when Matthew 17:5 - behold Mark 2:20 - be taken Mark 9:7 - a cloud Mark 14:62 - the Son Luke 5:35 - when Luke 9:51 - that Luke 19:12 - a far John 12:8 - but John 16:28 - I leave John 17:11 - I am Acts 1:22 - unto Ephesians 4:10 - ascended 1 Thessalonians 4:17 - in the Hebrews 9:24 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:2
The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water.
Genesis 1:5
and named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." Evening came and then morning—that was the first day.
Genesis 1:6

The Second Day

God said, "I command a dome to separate the water above it from the water below it."
Genesis 1:8
and named it "Sky." Evening came and then morning—that was the second day.
Genesis 1:9

The Third Day

God said, "I command the water under the sky to come together in one place, so there will be dry ground." And that's what happened.
Genesis 1:11
God said, "I command the earth to produce all kinds of plants, including fruit trees and grain." And that's what happened.
Genesis 1:28
God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.
Genesis 1:29
I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat.
Job 26:7
who hung the northern sky and suspended the earth on empty space.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when he had spoken these things,.... That the times and seasons were not to be known by them, but to be kept a secret by the Father: that they should tarry at Jerusalem, and in a few days be baptized with the Holy Ghost, and receive such power, abilities, strength, and courage thereby, as to bear a noble testimony for Christ, not only there, but in all the world; and when he had given them a fresh commission, and told them where they should go, what they should preach, and what miracles they should perform, and blessed them.

While they be held; all the Oriental versions, add, "him"; that is Christ, while they looked wistly at him, being attentive to what he said to them, so that they were not asleep; nor did Christ become invisible to them, or disappear before his ascension, but was visible to them in it; hence they were eyewitnesses of it:

he was taken up. Luke in his Gospel says, "carried up": very likely by angels, since these not only attended him in his ascension, but are the chariots of the Lord, in which he went up to heaven; see

Psalms 68:17 nor is this at all inconsistent with his proper deity, or that divine power he had of elevating himself, which he could do without the assistance of others; but this makes for the glory of his majesty.

And a cloud received him out of their sight; which was done partly for the same purpose, to add to the grandeur and magnificence of Christ's ascension; and partly to check the curiosity of the disciples, and prevent their gazing any more at him: and it may be that this, cloud was no other than a number of angels that appeared in this form; just as Elijah was taken up to heaven by angels, who appeared in the form of horses and chariots of fire; and the rather this may be the sense here, since it is certain, that there was a large number of angels which attended Christ at his ascension; and by whom he was then seen, Psalms 68:17 whereas, if these are not intended by the cloud, no more than two are here taken notice of, and these not as going along with Christ, but staying behind to converse with his disciples; to which may be added, that Christ was "received" by this cloud which descended to meet him, and joining him, escorted him to heaven: at least it may be thought, if it was a real cloud, that there was a multitude of angels in it, which accompanied him to the heavenly regions; for it can hardly be thought that a multitude of the heavenly host should descend at his birth, and sing glory to God upon his coming into this world; and not as large a number attend him with shouts and acclamations, at his going out of it, when he had done his work he came about, and was ascending to his God and Father, to take his place at his right hand on his throne; see Psalms 47:5. The Ethiopic version adds, "and he ascended to heaven".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

While they beheld - While they saw him. It was of importance to state that circumstance, and to state it distinctly. It is not affirmed in the New Testament that they “saw him rise” from the dead, because the evidence of that fact could be better established by their seeing him after he was risen. But the truth of his “ascension to heaven” could not be confirmed in that manner. Hence, it was so arranged that he should ascend in open day, and in the presence of his apostles; and that not when they were asleep, or were inattentive to what was occurring, but when they were engaged in a conversation that’ would fix the attention, and even when they were looking upon him. Had Jesus vanished secretly, or had he disappeared in the night, the apostles would have been amazed and confounded; perhaps they would even have doubted whether they had not been deceived. But when they saw him leave them in this manner, they could not doubt that he had ascended to heaven, and that God approved his work, and would carry it forward. This event was exceedingly important:

(1) It was a confirmation of the truth of the Christian religion.

(2) It enabled the apostles to state distinctly where the Lord Jesus was, and at once directed their affections and their thoughts away from the earth, and opened their eyes on the glory of the scheme of religion they were to establish. If their Saviour was in heaven, it settled the question about the nature of his kingdom. It was clear that it was not designed to be a temporal kingdom. The reasons why it was proper that the Lord Jesus should ascend to heaven rather than remain on earth were:

(1) That he had “finished” the work which God gave him to do “on the earth” John 17:4; John 19:30, and it was proper that he should be received back to the glory which he had with the Father before the world was, John 17:4-5; Philippians 2:6, Philippians 2:9-10.

(2) It was proper that he should ascend in order that the Holy Spirit might come down and perform his part of the work of redemption. Jesus, by his personal ministry, as a man, could be but in one place; the Holy Spirit could be in all places, and could apply the work to all people. See note on John 16:7.

(3) A part of the work of Christ was yet to be performed in heaven. That was the work of intercession. The high priest of the Jews not only made an atonement, but also presented the blood of sacrifice before the mercy-seat, as the priest of the people, Leviticus 16:11-14. This was done to typify the entrance of the great high priest of our profession into the heavens, Hebrews 9:7-8, Hebrews 9:11-12. The work which he performs there is the work of intercession, Hebrews 7:25. This is properly the work which an advocate performs in a court for his client. As applicable to Christ, the meaning is, that he, as our great high priest, still manages our cause in heaven; secures our interests; obtains for us grace and mercy. His work, in this respect, consists in his appearing in the presence of God for us Hebrews 9:24; in his presenting the merits of his blood Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:14; and in securing the continuance of the mercy which has been bestowed on us, and which is still needful for our welfare. The Lord Jesus also ascended that he might assume and exercise the office of King in the immediate seat of power. All worlds were made subject to him for the welfare of the church; and it was needful that he should be solemnly invested with that power in the presence of God as the reward of his earthly toils. 1 Corinthians 15:25, “he must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet.” Compare Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:6-11.

A cloud received him - He entered into the region of the clouds, and was hid from their view. But two others of our race have been taken bodily from earth to heaven. Enoch was transported (Genesis 5:24; compare Hebrews 11:5); and Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind, 2 Kings 2:11. It is remarkable that when the return of the Saviour is mentioned, it is uniformly said that he will return in the clouds, Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:30; Matthew 26:64; Mark 13:26; Revelation 1:7; Daniel 7:13. The clouds are an emblem of sublimity and grandeur, and perhaps this is all that is intended by these expressions, Deuteronomy 4:11; 2 Samuel 22:12; Psalms 97:2; Psalms 104:3.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 1:9. He was taken up — He was speaking face to face with them, and while they beheld he was taken up; he began to ascend to heaven, and they continued to look after him till a cloud received him out of their sight-till he had ascended above the region of the clouds, by the density of which all farther distinct vision was prevented. These circumstances are very remarkable, and should be carefully noted. They render insupportable the theory that states, "that our Lord did not ascend to heaven; that his being taken up signifies his going into some mountain, the top of which was covered with clouds, or thick vapours; and that the two men in white garments were two priests, or Levites, who simply informed the disciples of his revisiting them again at some future time." One would suppose that an opinion of this kind could hardly ever obtain credit among people professing Christianity; and yet it is espoused by some men of considerable learning and ingenuity. But the mere letter of the text will be ever sufficient for its total confutation. He that believes the text cannot receive such a miserable comment. Foreign critics and divines take a most sinful latitude on subjects of this kind.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile