After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.
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.
- KJV And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, 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.
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, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
- Luke 24:50–51He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
- Mark 16:19So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
- Eph 4:8–12Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
- John 6:62Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
- Exod 19:9Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.
- Acts 1:2until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
- Rev 11:12I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them.
- Luke 21:27Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
- Isa 19:1The burden of Egypt: “Behold, Yahweh rides on a swift cloud, and comes to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt will melt within it.
- Ps 68:18You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there.
- Exod 34:5Yahweh descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed Yahweh’s name.
- Rev 14:4These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb.
- Rev 1:7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.