Jesus Christ"s ascension necessarily preceded the descent of the Holy Spirit to baptize and indwell believers, in God"s plan ( John 14:16; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7; Acts 2:33-36). "While they were looking on" stresses the fact that the apostles really saw Jesus ascending, which they bore witness to later. This reference supports the credibility of their witness. In previous post-resurrection appearances Jesus had vanished from the disciples" sight instantly ( Luke 24:31), but now He gradually departed from them. The cloud seems clearly to be a reference to the shekinah, the visible symbol of the glorious presence of God (cf. Exodus 40:34; Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7). [1] Thus what the disciples saw was the symbol of God"s presence receiving and enveloping Jesus into heaven. This connoted God"s approval of Jesus and Jesus" entrance into the glorious presence of God. [source][source][source]
"It was necessary that as Jesus in a moment of time had arrived in the world in a moment of time He should leave it." [2][source]
Context Summary
Acts 1:1-14 - Beginning Afresh
Luke informs Theophilus (the name means "a lover of God") that his Gospel told the story of what the Lord began to do and teach. Evidently this further book is a continuation of His deeds and words. It ought to be called "The Acts of the Ascended Christ." The Gospel tells of what Jesus did through a mortal body; and this book what He did through the Church, which is His body, "the fullness of Him that filleth all in all." Here we learn that the time between the Resurrection and the Ascension was forty days; that our Lord issued commandments, no doubt about the ordering of the Church; and that He spoke with the Apostles of the coming kingdom of God-that ideal society which is God's great objective through the ages. It would not be established by the sword of the soldier, but by the witness-bearing of the evangelist, Acts 1:8.
Then the Lord rose before their eyes, and passed within a cloud, which dropped like a curtain before Him. He passed into heaven, Hebrews 9:24, to make intercession, to guide the course of His Church, and to sit at the right hand of the Father till His enemies should be made His footstool. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 1
1Christ, preparing his apostles to the beholding of his ascension, 4gathers them together unto the Mount of Olives, 6commands them to expect in Jerusalem the sending down of the Holy Spirit, 9and ascends into heaven in their sight 10After his ascension they are warned by two angels to depart, and to set their minds upon his second coming 12They accordingly return, and, giving themselves to prayer, 23choose Matthias apostle in the place of Judas
Greek Commentary for Acts 1:9
As they were looking [βλεποντων αυτων] Genitive absolute. The present participle accents the fact that they were looking directly at Jesus. [source]
He was taken up [επαιρω] (επαιρω epe4rthe4). First aorist passive indicative of ανεπερετο epairō old and common verb meaning to lift up. In Luke 24:51 we have “he was borne up” (ανελημπτη anephereto) and in Acts 1:2,Acts 1:11; 1 Timothy 3:6 “was received up” (υπελαβεν anelēmpthē). Received (υπολαμβανω hupelaben). Second aorist active indicative of απο των οπταλμων αυτων hupolambanō literally here “took under him.” He seemed to be supported by the cloud. “In glory” Paul adds in 1 Timothy 3:16. -DIVIDER-
Out of their sight (απο apo tōn ophthalmōn autōn). From their eyes (apo with ablative case). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 1:9
Mark 16:19Was received up into heaven [ανελημπτη εις τον ουρανον] First aorist passive indicative. Luke gives the fact of the Ascension twice in Gospel (Luke 24:50.) and Acts 1:9-11. The Ascension in Mark took place after Jesus spoke to the disciples, not in Galilee (Mark 16:15-18), nor on the first or second Sunday evening in Jerusalem. We should not know when it took place nor where but for Luke who locates it on Olivet (Luke 24:50) at the close of the forty days (Acts 1:3) and so after the return from Galilee (Matthew 28:16). [source]
Luke 24:51He parted from them [διεστη απ αυτων] Second aorist active (intransitive) indicative of διιστημι diistēmi He stood apart (δια dia) and he was gone. Some manuscripts do not have the words “and was carried into heaven.” But we know that Jesus was taken up into heaven on a cloud (Acts 1:9). [source]
3 John 1:8To welcome [υπολαμβανειν] Present active infinitive (habit of welcoming) of υπολαμβανω hupolambanō old word, to take up under, to carry off (Acts 1:9), to reply (Luke 10:30), to suppose (Acts 2:15), only here in N.T. in this sense of receiving hospitably or to take under one‘s protection like υποδεχομαι hupodechomai (Luke 10:38).Such (τους τοιουτους tous toioutous). “The such” according to the Greek idiom (1 Corinthians 16:16,1 Corinthians 16:18).That we may be Purpose clause with ινα hina and the present middle subjunctive of γινομαι ginomai “that we may keep on becoming.”Fellow-workers (συνεργοι sunergoi). Old compound (συν εργον sunτηι αλητειαι ergon).With the truth So associative instrumental case with συνεργοι sun in συνεργεω sunergoi but it is not certain that this is the idea, though εργοις sunergeō is so used with Συνεργος ergois in James 2:22. τεου συνεργοι Sunergos itself occurs with the genitive of the person as in της χαρας theou sunergoi (1 Corinthians 3:9) or with genitive of the thing tēs charās (1 Corinthians 3:9). So then here the meaning may be either “co-workers with such brethren for the truth” (dative of advantage) or “co-workers with the truth” (associative instrumental case). [source]
Revelation 10:1Coming down out of heaven [καταβαινοντα εκ του ουρανου] Present active participle of καταβαινω katabainō picturing the process of the descent as in Revelation 20:1 (cf. Revelation 3:12).Arrayed with a cloud (περιβεβλημενον νεπελην peribeblēmenon nephelēn). Perfect passive participle of περιβαλλω periballō with accusative case retained as in Revelation 7:9,Revelation 7:13. Not proof that this angel is Christ, though Christ will come on the clouds (Revelation 1:7) as he ascended on a cloud (Acts 1:9). God‘s chariot is in the clouds (Psalm 104:3), but this angel is a special messenger of God‘s.The rainbow See Revelation 4:3 for this word. The construction here is changed from the accusative to the nominative.As the sun (ως ο ηλιος hōs ho hēlios). The very metaphor applied to Christ in Revelation 1:16.As pillars of fire Somewhat like the metaphor of Christ in Revelation 1:15, but still no proof that this angel is Christ. On στυλος stulos see Revelation 3:12; Galatians 2:9. [source]
Revelation 10:1Arrayed with a cloud [περιβεβλημενον νεπελην] Perfect passive participle of περιβαλλω periballō with accusative case retained as in Revelation 7:9,Revelation 7:13. Not proof that this angel is Christ, though Christ will come on the clouds (Revelation 1:7) as he ascended on a cloud (Acts 1:9). God‘s chariot is in the clouds (Psalm 104:3), but this angel is a special messenger of God‘s. [source]
Revelation 11:12Come up hither [αναβατε ωδε] Second aorist active imperative of αναβαινω anabainō The ascension of these two witnesses is in full view of their enemies, not just in the presence of a few friends as with Christ (Acts 1:9).They went up (ανεβησαν anebēsan). Second aorist active indicative of αναβαινω anabainō the cloud (εν τηι νεπεληι en tēi nephelēi). As Jesus did (Acts 1:9) and like Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). Their triumph is openly celebrated before their enemies and is like the rapture described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. [source]
Revelation 11:12They went up [ανεβησαν] Second aorist active indicative of αναβαινω anabainō the cloud As Jesus did (Acts 1:9) and like Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). Their triumph is openly celebrated before their enemies and is like the rapture described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. [source]
Greek Commentary for Acts 1:9
Genitive absolute. The present participle accents the fact that they were looking directly at Jesus. [source]
(επαιρω epe4rthe4). First aorist passive indicative of ανεπερετο epairō old and common verb meaning to lift up. In Luke 24:51 we have “he was borne up” (ανελημπτη anephereto) and in Acts 1:2, Acts 1:11; 1 Timothy 3:6 “was received up” (υπελαβεν anelēmpthē). Received (υπολαμβανω hupelaben). Second aorist active indicative of απο των οπταλμων αυτων hupolambanō literally here “took under him.” He seemed to be supported by the cloud. “In glory” Paul adds in 1 Timothy 3:16. -DIVIDER- Out of their sight (απο apo tōn ophthalmōn autōn). From their eyes (apo with ablative case). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 1:9
First aorist passive indicative. Luke gives the fact of the Ascension twice in Gospel (Luke 24:50.) and Acts 1:9-11. The Ascension in Mark took place after Jesus spoke to the disciples, not in Galilee (Mark 16:15-18), nor on the first or second Sunday evening in Jerusalem. We should not know when it took place nor where but for Luke who locates it on Olivet (Luke 24:50) at the close of the forty days (Acts 1:3) and so after the return from Galilee (Matthew 28:16). [source]
Second aorist active (intransitive) indicative of διιστημι diistēmi He stood apart (δια dia) and he was gone. Some manuscripts do not have the words “and was carried into heaven.” But we know that Jesus was taken up into heaven on a cloud (Acts 1:9). [source]
Present active infinitive (habit of welcoming) of υπολαμβανω hupolambanō old word, to take up under, to carry off (Acts 1:9), to reply (Luke 10:30), to suppose (Acts 2:15), only here in N.T. in this sense of receiving hospitably or to take under one‘s protection like υποδεχομαι hupodechomai (Luke 10:38).Such (τους τοιουτους tous toioutous). “The such” according to the Greek idiom (1 Corinthians 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:18).That we may be Purpose clause with ινα hina and the present middle subjunctive of γινομαι ginomai “that we may keep on becoming.”Fellow-workers (συνεργοι sunergoi). Old compound (συν εργον sunτηι αλητειαι ergon).With the truth So associative instrumental case with συνεργοι sun in συνεργεω sunergoi but it is not certain that this is the idea, though εργοις sunergeō is so used with Συνεργος ergois in James 2:22. τεου συνεργοι Sunergos itself occurs with the genitive of the person as in της χαρας theou sunergoi (1 Corinthians 3:9) or with genitive of the thing tēs charās (1 Corinthians 3:9). So then here the meaning may be either “co-workers with such brethren for the truth” (dative of advantage) or “co-workers with the truth” (associative instrumental case). [source]
Present active participle of καταβαινω katabainō picturing the process of the descent as in Revelation 20:1 (cf. Revelation 3:12).Arrayed with a cloud (περιβεβλημενον νεπελην peribeblēmenon nephelēn). Perfect passive participle of περιβαλλω periballō with accusative case retained as in Revelation 7:9, Revelation 7:13. Not proof that this angel is Christ, though Christ will come on the clouds (Revelation 1:7) as he ascended on a cloud (Acts 1:9). God‘s chariot is in the clouds (Psalm 104:3), but this angel is a special messenger of God‘s.The rainbow See Revelation 4:3 for this word. The construction here is changed from the accusative to the nominative.As the sun (ως ο ηλιος hōs ho hēlios). The very metaphor applied to Christ in Revelation 1:16.As pillars of fire Somewhat like the metaphor of Christ in Revelation 1:15, but still no proof that this angel is Christ. On στυλος stulos see Revelation 3:12; Galatians 2:9. [source]
Perfect passive participle of περιβαλλω periballō with accusative case retained as in Revelation 7:9, Revelation 7:13. Not proof that this angel is Christ, though Christ will come on the clouds (Revelation 1:7) as he ascended on a cloud (Acts 1:9). God‘s chariot is in the clouds (Psalm 104:3), but this angel is a special messenger of God‘s. [source]
Second aorist active imperative of αναβαινω anabainō The ascension of these two witnesses is in full view of their enemies, not just in the presence of a few friends as with Christ (Acts 1:9).They went up (ανεβησαν anebēsan). Second aorist active indicative of αναβαινω anabainō the cloud (εν τηι νεπεληι en tēi nephelēi). As Jesus did (Acts 1:9) and like Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). Their triumph is openly celebrated before their enemies and is like the rapture described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. [source]
Second aorist active indicative of αναβαινω anabainō the cloud As Jesus did (Acts 1:9) and like Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). Their triumph is openly celebrated before their enemies and is like the rapture described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. [source]
Like the “bright cloud” of Matthew 17:5 (Transfiguration), a familiar object in the Mediterranean lands. See Daniel 7:13; Matthew 24:30; Matthew 26:64; Acts 1:9, Acts 1:11 for the picture of Christ‘s return. [source]