Bible Strands
Acts 1:9
After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the eleven disciples immediately after promising they will receive power from the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses. He concludes this final commission by ascending before their eyes as they observe the event.
The words — The verb ἐπήρθη (epērthē) literally means "He was taken up," paired with νεφέλη (nephelē) for "a cloud" that conceals Him from view. The participle βλεπόντων (blepontōn) indicates the disciples were actively watching the departure unfold.
The thread — This ascent parallels Daniel 7:13’s vision of the Son of Man arriving with heavenly clouds and matches Mark 16:19’s record of Jesus being taken up into heaven. It also aligns with Luke 24:50, where Jesus blesses the disciples from Bethany prior to His departure.
Why it lands — The text records a physical departure that terminates the disciples’ direct observation of Jesus, replacing His visible presence with concealment by a cloud. It requires the reader to acknowledge that the witness mandate and Spirit empowerment begin precisely after this visible exit.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
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.
Cross-references
- Daniel 7:13 In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
- Luke 24:50 When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
- Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
- Exodus 19:9 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said.
- John 6:62 Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?
- Acts 1:2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.
- Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”
- Luke 21:27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
- Revelation 11:12 And the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched them.
- Isaiah 19:1 This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them.