Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 1:9

"And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." — Acts 1:9 (ASV)

For Jesus’ ascension Luke simply says that he “was taken up.” He tells us very little else about it except that it occurred after Jesus had given his mandate to witness and while the disciples were watching. Not even the place where the Ascension occurred is mentioned in v.9, though in v.12 Luke says it took place on the Mount of Olives. More important for Luke than the description of the Ascension is its significance, and this he gives us in saying that “a cloud hid him from their sight.” The cloud undoubtedly symbolizes the shekinah (see comment on Ex 24:16– 17), the visible manifestation of the divine presence and glory. Such a cloud hovered above the tabernacle in the wilderness as a visible token of the glory of God that dwelt within the tabernacle (cf. Exodus 40:34); it also enveloped Jesus and three of his disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration as a visible sign of God’s presence there and his approval of his Son (cf. Mark 9:7–11). Something similar is presented here: Jesus as the ascended Lord is enveloped by the shekinah cloud, the visible manifestation of God’s presence, glory, and approval.