ACT 1:6-11

The Ascension

6When, therefore, they had come together, they were asking him: 'Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?' [1:7] He said to them: 'It is not yours to know the chronological times or the appointed seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. [1:8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' [1:9] And having said these things, while they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud received him away from their eyes. [1:10] And as they were gazing into the sky as he was going, behold — two men stood beside them in white garments, [1:11] who also said: 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'

In the world it was spoken into

In the first-century Jewish context, the disciples’ question about restoring the kingdom to Israel reflects their expectation of a political and nationalistic Messianic deliverance from Roman oppression. The term 'kingdom' would have evoked hopes of a restored Davidic monarchy, as promised in Jewish prophetic tradition. Jesus’ response shifts their focus from political restoration to a spiritual mission, emphasizing the coming of the Holy Spirit and their role as witnesses . The mention of 'times and seasons' underscores the disciples’ inability to control or predict divine timing, a concept familiar in Jewish apocalyptic thought. The ascension itself, marked by a cloud, would have resonated with Jewish audiences familiar with theophanies in the Hebrew Scriptures, such as the cloud at Sinai or Elijah’s ascent. The command to witness 'to the ends of the earth' aligns with the Jewish understanding of Israel’s role as a light to the nations, now expanded through the disciples’ mission.

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How other translations render this

ACT 1:6

KJV: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
BSB: So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Koinōnos: When, therefore, they had come together, they were asking him: 'Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?

ACT 1:7

KJV: And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
BSB: Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.
Koinōnos: He said to them: 'It is not yours to know the chronological times or the appointed seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.

ACT 1:8

KJV: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
BSB: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Koinōnos: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

ACT 1:9

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.
Koinōnos: And having said these things, while they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud received him away from their eyes.

ACT 1:10

KJV: And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
BSB: They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
Koinōnos: And as they were gazing into the sky as he was going, behold — two men stood beside them in white garments,

ACT 1:11

KJV: Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
BSB: “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
Koinōnos: who also said: 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 1:7

times:The word translated 'times' refers to chronological time, a duration or period, emphasizing the quantity of time that passes.
seasons:The word translated 'seasons' refers to opportune or appointed times, moments of special significance or kairos, rather than just a segment of chronological time.

ACT 1:8

power:The word translated 'power' here denotes inherent ability, strength, or capacity, often implying miraculous or supernatural capability.
witnesses:The word translated 'witnesses' carried the strong sense of someone who testifies to what they have seen and heard, often at personal risk, even to the point of martyrdom.