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Christian Standard Bible ®

Acts 1:11

They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Angel (a Spirit);   Ascension;   Galilee;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Translation;   Scofield Reference Index - Bible Prayers;   Christ;   Church;   Gentile;   Thompson Chain Reference - Advent;   Coming, Second Coming of Christ;   Future, the;   Galilee;   Second Coming of Christ;   The Topic Concordance - Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ;   Witness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Angels;   Ascension of Christ, the;   Cloud of Glory;   Galilee;   Second Coming of Christ, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ascension;   Barsabas;   Galilee;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Heaven;   Jerusalem;   Jesus christ;   Millennium;   Philip;   Resurrection;   Thomas;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Ascension of Jesus Christ;   Heaven, Heavens, Heavenlies;   Jesus Christ;   Mark, Theology of;   Miracle;   Worship;   Zechariah, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ascension of Christ;   Commentary;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Angel;   Cloud;   Coming of Christ;   Galilean;   Olves, Mount of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Angels;   Bethany;   Galilee;   Jehoshaphat, Valley of;   Olives, Mount of;   Shechinah;   Temple;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Apostles;   Ascension of Christ;   Church;   Hope;   Olives, Mount of;   Olivet Discourse, the;   Resurrection of Jesus Christ;   Second Coming, the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ascension;   Hope;   Mark, Gospel According to;   Prayer;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Thessalonians, Second Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Ascension;   Ascension (2);   Attributes of Christ;   Bethsaida ;   Body (2);   Cloud;   Eschatology;   Galilee;   Mediation Mediator;   Name ;   Preaching Christ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Advent, Second;   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;   Galilee;   Olives;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Galileans;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Ascension of Christ;   Heaven;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ascension;   Body, Spiritual;   Christ, the Exaltation of;   Manner;   Millennium: Premillennial View;   Olives, Mount of;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for August 13;   Every Day Light - Devotion for October 12;   Faith's Checkbook - Devotion for December 25;   Today's Word from Skip Moen - Devotion for May 27;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Cowboys," they said, "why are y'all standing around gawking at the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven, but one day he will return in the same fashion."
Legacy Standard Bible
They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking toward heaven? 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."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
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."
Bible in Basic English
And said, O men of Galilee, why are you looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come again, in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.
Darby Translation
who also said, Men of Galilee, why do ye stand looking into heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall thus come in the manner in which ye have beheld him going into heaven.
New King James Version
who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
World English Bible
who also said, "You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
behold two men, in white apparel, stood by them, Who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing into heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as ye have seen him going into heaven.
Weymouth's New Testament
who said, "Galilaeans, why stand looking into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into Heaven will come in just the same way as you have seen Him going into Heaven."
King James Version (1611)
Which also said, Yee men of Galililee, why stand yee gazing vp into heauen? This same Iesus, which is taken vp from you into heauen, shall so come, in like maner as yee haue seene him goe into heauen.
Literal Translation
who also said, Men, Galileans, why do you stand looking up to the heaven? This Jesus, the One being taken from you into the heaven, will come in the way you saw Him going into the heaven.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
which also sayde: Ye men of Galile, Why stonde ye gasynge vp in to heauen? This Iesus which is take vp from you in to heauen shal come euen so as ye haue sene him go in to heauen.
Mace New Testament (1729)
"ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up to heaven? this same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall descend in the same manner as ye have seen him ascend thither."
Amplified Bible
who said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This [same] Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."
American Standard Version
who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.
Revised Standard Version
and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
which also sayde: ye men of Galile why stonde ye gasinge vp into heave? This same Iesus which is taken vp fro you in to heaven shall so come even as ye haue sene him goo into heaven.
Update Bible Version
who also said, You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you watched him going into heaven.
Webster's Bible Translation
Who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up to heaven? this same Jesus who is taken from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Young's Literal Translation
who also said, `Men, Galileans, why do ye stand gazing into the heaven? this Jesus who was received up from you into the heaven, shall so come in what manner ye saw him going on to the heaven.'
New Century Version
They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus, whom you saw taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go."
New English Translation
and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven."
Berean Standard Bible
"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven."
Contemporary English Version
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."
Complete Jewish Bible
The men said, "You Galileans! Why are you standing, staring into space? This Yeshua, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come back to you in just the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
English Standard Version
and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Which also sayde, Yee men of Galile, why stande yee gasing into heauen? This Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen, shal so come, as yee haue seene him goe into heauen.
George Lamsa Translation
And they said to them, Men of Gal''i-lee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who has ascended from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him ascend into heaven.
Hebrew Names Version
who also said, "You men of the Galil, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Yeshua, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky."
International Standard Version
They asked, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go up into heaven."Daniel 7:13; Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27; John 14:3; Acts 2:7; 13:31; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 1:7;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and they said to them, Men, Galiloyee, why stand you looking to the heavens 3 ? this Jeshu who is taken up from you into the heavens will so come as you have seen him ascend into the heavens.
Murdock Translation
and saying to them: Ye Galilean men, why stand ye and look toward heaven? This Jesus, who is taken up from you to heaven, will so come, as ye have seen him ascend to heaven.
New Living Translation
"Men of Galilee," they said, "why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!"
New Life Bible
They said, "You men of the country of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus Who was taken from you into heaven will return in the same way you saw Him go up into heaven."
English Revised Version
which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, which was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.
New Revised Standard
They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Who also said - Men of Galilee! why stand ye looking into heaven? This Jesus who hath been taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in like manner as ye yourselves have gazed upon him going into heaven.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen him going into heaven.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand there looking into the sky? This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven like this will come back in the same way you saw him departing into heaven!"
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Which also sayde: Ye men of Galilee, why stande ye gasyng vp into heauen? This same Iesus, which is taken vp from you into heauen, shall so come, euen as ye haue seene hym go into heauen.
Easy-to-Read Version
They said, "Men from Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? You saw Jesus carried away from you into heaven. He will come back in the same way you saw him go."
New American Standard Bible
and they 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 the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."
Good News Translation
and said, "Galileans, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Men of Galile, what stonden ye biholdinge in to heuene? This Jhesu, which is takun vp `fro you in to heuene, schal come, as ye seyn hym goynge in to heuene.

Contextual Overview

6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, "Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?" 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. 10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Ye men: Acts 2:7, Acts 13:31, Mark 14:70

why: Acts 3:12, Luke 24:5

shall: Daniel 7:13, Daniel 7:14, Matthew 24:30, Matthew 25:31, Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27, John 14:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Revelation 1:7

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 2:5 - thy master Zechariah 14:4 - his feet Matthew 26:64 - Hereafter Mark 16:19 - he was Luke 19:12 - and John 1:51 - and the Acts 3:21 - the heaven Acts 7:55 - looked 1 Corinthians 11:26 - till Galatians 4:25 - Arabia Ephesians 4:10 - ascended Philippians 3:20 - from 1 Timothy 3:16 - seen Hebrews 4:14 - that is Hebrews 9:28 - he appear 1 Peter 3:22 - is gone

Cross-References

Genesis 1:9
Then God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.
Genesis 1:13
Evening came and then morning: the third day.
Genesis 1:14
Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years.
Genesis 1:16
God made the two great lights—the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night—as well as the stars.
Genesis 1:17
God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth,
Genesis 1:20
Then God said, "Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."
Genesis 1:29
God also said, "Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you,
Genesis 2:5
No shrub of the field had yet grown on the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not made it rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground.
Genesis 2:9
The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:16
And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree of the garden,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Which also said, ye men of Galilee,.... And which was said by them, not to reproach them with their country, but partly to let them know that they knew them, who they were, and from whence they came; and partly to observe the rich and distinguishing grace of God in choosing such mean and contemptible persons to be the apostles of Christ, and eyewitnesses of his majesty:

why stand ye gazing up into heaven? reproving them for their curiosity in looking after Christ with their bodily eyes, who was no more in common to be seen this way, but with an eye of faith; and for their desire after his corporeal presence, which they were not to look for; and as if they expected he would return again immediately, whereas his return will not be till the end of the world: and besides, they were not to remain on that spot, or stand gazing there; they were to go to Jerusalem, and abide there, as Christ had ordered, till they should receive the Holy Spirit in an extraordinary way; and then they were to preach a crucified Christ, and declare that he was risen from the dead, and was gone to heaven, and was ordained to be the Judge of quick and dead.

This same Jesus; and not another; the same in person, in body and soul:

which is taken up from you into heaven; who was taken up in a cloud out of their sight, and received into heaven, where he will be till the times of the restitution of all things; and which might be matter of grief to them, because of the loss of his bodily presence; though it should have been rather joyful to them, since he was gone to the Father, and as their forerunner, to prepare a place, and make intercession for them:

shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven; he shall come in the same flesh, in the same human nature; he shall come in the clouds of heaven, and shall be attended with his mighty angels, as he now was; he shall descend himself in person, as he now ascended in person; and as he went up with a shout, and with the sound of a trumpet, see Psalms 47:5 so he shall descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God; and, it may be, he shall descend upon the very spot from whence he ascended; see

Zechariah 14:4 and it is a notion of the Jews, that the resurrection of the Israelites will be there: they say m, that

"when the dead shall live, the Mount of Olives shall be cleaved asunder, and all the dead of Israel shall come out from under it; yea, even the righteous which die in captivity shall pass through a subterranean cavern, and come out from under the Mount of Olives.''

m Targum in Cant. viii. 5.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ye men of Galilee - Galilee was the place of their former residence, and they were commonly known by the name of Galileans.

Why stand ye ... - There is doubtless a slight degree of censure implied in this, as well as a design to call their attention away from a vain attempt to see the departed Saviour. The impropriety may have been:

  1. In the feeling of disappointment, as if he would not restore the kingdom to Israel.
  2. Possibly they were expecting that he would again soon appear, though he had often foretold them that he would ascend to heaven.

(3)There might have been an impropriety in their earnest desire for the mere bodily presence of the Lord Jesus, when it was more important that he should be in heaven. We may see here also that it is our duty not to stand in idleness, and to gaze even toward heaven. We, as well as the apostles, have a great work to do, and we should actively engage in it without delay.

Gazing up - Looking up.

This same Jesus - This was said to comfort them. The same tried friend who had been so faithful to them would return. They ought not, therefore, to look with despondency at his departure.

Into heaven - This expression denotes into the immediate presence of God; or into the place of perpetual purity and happiness, where God especially manifests his favor. The same thing is frequently designated by his sitting on the right hand of God, as emblematic of power, honor, and favor. See the Mark 16:19; Mark 14:62 notes; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 8:1 notes; Acts 7:55 note; Romans 8:34 note; Ephesians 1:20 note.

Shall so come - At the day of judgment. John 14:3, “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,” etc.

In like manner ... - In clouds, as he ascended. See the Acts 1:9 note; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 note. This address was designed to comfort the disciples. Though their master and friend was taken from them, yet he was not removed forever. He would come again with similar majesty and glory to vindicate his people, and to tread his enemies under his feet. The design for which he will come will be to judge the world, Matthew 25:0. There will be an evident fitness and propriety in his coming for such reasons as the following:

(1) Because his appropriate work in heaven as mediator will have been accomplished; his people will have been saved; the great enemy of God and man will have been subdued; death will have been conquered; and the gospel will have shown its power in subduing all forms of wickedness; in removing the effects of sin; in establishing the Law, and in vindicating the honor of God; and all will have been done that is necessary to establish the authority of God throughout the universe. It will be proper, therefore, that this mysterious order of things shall be wound up, and the results become a matter of record in the history of the universe. This will be better than it would be to suffer an eternal millennium on the earth, while the saints should many of them slumber, and the wicked still be in their graves.

(2) It is proper that he should come to vindicate his people, and raise them up to glory. Here they have been persecuted, oppressed, put to death. Their character is assailed; they are poor; and the world despises them. It is fit that God should show himself to be their friend; that he should do justice to their injured names and motives; that he should bring out hidden and obscure virtue, and vindicate it; that he should enter every grave and bring forth his friends to life.

(3) It is proper that he should show his hatred of sin. Here it triumphs. The wicked are rich, and honored, and mighty, and say, Where is the promise of his coming? 2 Peter 3:4. It is right that he should defend his cause. Hence, the Lord Jesus will come to guard the avenues to heaven, and to see that the universe suffers no wrong by the admission of an improper person to the skies.

(4) The great transactions of redemption have been public, open, often grand. The apostasy was public, in the face of angels and of the universe. Sin has been open, public high-handed. Misery has been public, and has rolled its deep and turbid waves in the face of the universe. Death has been public; all worlds have seen the race cut down and moulder. The death of Jesus was public: the angels saw it; the heavens were clothed with mourning; the earth shook, and the dead arose. Jesus was publicly whipped, cursed, crucified; and it is proper that he should publicly triumph - that all heaven rejoicing, and all hell at length humbled, should see his public victory. Hence, he will come with clouds - with angels - with fire - and will raise the dead, and exhibit to all the universe the amazing close of the scheme of redemption.

(5) We have in these verses a description of the most grand and wonderful events that this world has ever known - the ascension and return of the Lord Jesus. Here is consolation for the Christian; and here is a source of ceaseless alarm to the sinner.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 1:11. Gazing up into heaven — Not to the top of a mountain, to which an unbridled fancy, influenced by infidelity, would intimate he had ascended, and not to heaven.

This same Jesus — Clothed in human nature. shall so come in like manner-with the same body, descending from heaven by his sovereign and all-controlling power, as ye have seen him go into heaven. Thus shall he come again to judge the quick and the dead. It was a very ancient opinion among Christians, that when Christ should come again to judge the world he would make his appearance on Mount Olivet. Some think that his coming again to destroy the Jewish nation is what the angels refer to. See a connected account of the different appearances of Christ at the end of this chapter.


 
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