And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Parallel translations
- WEB When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
- BSB After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
- NKJV Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
- NASB 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.
- NLT After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
As they watched, Jesus was taken up and hidden by a cloud. This is the ascension, His bodily exaltation to the Father's presence.
Overview
The ascension marks the close of Jesus' earthly ministry and His enthronement at God's right hand. The cloud recalls the visible sign of God's glory and presence in Scripture. Christ's ascension means He now reigns and intercedes for His people while the Spirit empowers their mission.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Dan 7:13I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
- Luke 24:50–51And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
- Mark 16:19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
- Eph 4:8–12Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
- John 6:62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
- Exod 19:9And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
- Acts 1:2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
- Rev 11:12And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
- Luke 21:27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
- Isa 19:1The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
- Ps 68:18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
- Exod 34:5And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
- Rev 14:4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
- Rev 1:7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 1:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.