Acts 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.

Acts 1:11 nkjv

who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Acts 1:11 niv

"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."

Acts 1:11 esv

and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Acts 1:11 nlt

"Men of Galilee," they said, "why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!"

Acts 1 verses

Acts 1 11 Meaning

Acts 1:11 communicates a twofold message delivered by two angelic figures to the apostles shortly after Jesus' ascension. First, it addresses their prolonged contemplation of the heavens by urging them to cease gazing idly. Second, it delivers a foundational promise: the same Jesus who physically and visibly ascended into heaven will return in the same physical and visible manner. This verse bridges the historical event of the Ascension with the future hope of the Second Coming, serving as both a gentle redirection and a profound theological assurance.

Acts 1 11 Context

This verse is situated immediately after the account of Jesus' ascension to heaven in Acts 1:9-10. Following His post-resurrection teachings to the apostles over 40 days, which included instructions regarding the Kingdom of God and the promise of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was "taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight." The apostles, fixedly staring into the sky, are then addressed by two "men in white apparel"—likely angels—who deliver this pivotal message.

The broader context of Acts begins with Jesus' command for the apostles to be His "witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Their extended gaze heavenward, while understandable given the miraculous event they just witnessed, represents a momentary pause in the execution of their divinely appointed mission. The angels' words gently pivot their attention from passive observation of Jesus' departure to active anticipation of His return and, more importantly, to the immediate task of fulfilling their commission. Historically, this scene firmly establishes the future hope of Jesus' bodily return for the early Christian community, rooting their eschatological expectation in a literal and visible event.

Acts 1 11 Word Analysis

• "who also said": Implies these are the same two "men in white apparel" from Acts 1:10. Their immediate appearance and message signify divine authority and insight, underscoring the importance and certainty of their pronouncement.
• "Men of Galilee" (Ἄνδρες Γαλιλαίοι - Andres Galilaioi): This direct address identifies the audience as the apostles, highlighting their common origin with Jesus from the northern region of Galilee. It is a familiar, somewhat personal address, indicating an understanding of who they are and where they come from, making the message specifically for them.
• "why do you stand gazing up into heaven?" (τί ἑστήκατε βλέποντες εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν; - ti hestēkate blepontes eis ton ouranon?):
  • "stand" (hestēkate): Signifies a posture of idle waiting or prolonged observation.
  • "gazing up" (blepontes): Refers back to the "fixedly looked" (atenizontes) in verse 10, indicating intense and prolonged visual focus. This is a mild rebuke, subtly shifting their focus from looking at Him as He departed to preparing for Him as He returns, by doing His work. It redirects them from contemplation to commission.
• "This same Jesus" (Οὗτος ὁ Ἰησοῦς - Houtos ho Iēsoūs): Emphasizes the absolute identity and continuity of person. It is not a different spirit, a symbolic presence, or another individual, but the very same person—physical, divine, human—who walked with them, died, rose, and ascended. This counters any potential spiritualization or depersonalization of His return.
• "who was taken up from you into heaven" (ὁ ἀναληφθείς ἀφ᾿ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν - ho analēmptheis aph' hymōn eis ton ouranon):
  • "taken up" (analēmphtheis): Refers explicitly to the Ascension, a physical, visible separation. This verb denotes being lifted or carried up.
  • This phrase firmly establishes the first event (Ascension) as the parallel and direct predecessor to the second (Second Coming). It underscores that His departure was literal and His return will be equally so.
• "will so come" (οὕτως ἐλεύσεται - houtōs eleusetai):
  • "so come" (houtōs eleusetai): This adverb is critical. It implies a return "in this manner" or "just as." It is an emphatic assertion of the nature of His return.
• "in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (ὅν τρόπον ἐθεάσασθε αὐτὸν πορευόμενον εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν - hon tropon etheasasthē auton poreuomenon eis ton ouranon):
  • "in like manner" (hon tropon): This phrase clarifies and expands on houtōs. It guarantees that the return will mirror the ascension in key respects: it will be physical, visible to human eyes, personal (the same Jesus), and from heaven, likely accompanied by a cloud (referring to Acts 1:9). It guards against any notion of a merely spiritual or secret return, stressing His bodily presence.
  • "you saw Him go" (etheasasthē auton poreuomenon): This emphasizes their direct, personal, eyewitness testimony to the Ascension, reinforcing the literalness of both events. Their experience of seeing Him leave assures them of the equally literal promise of His return.

Acts 1 11 Bonus Section

• The message from the angels firmly establishes the personal and bodily identity of Jesus Christ throughout His earthly ministry, resurrection, ascension, and future return. There is an unwavering consistency to His person.
• The directive to cease "gazing" does not negate the significance of Christ's heavenly session or His future return, but rather puts the emphasis back on present action and mission. The promise of His return should be a catalyst for living faithfully and proclaiming the Gospel, not an excuse for idleness or escapism.
• This verse is one of the clearest and earliest statements in the New Testament connecting the manner of Christ's Ascension to the manner of His Second Coming. It becomes a touchstone for understanding New Testament eschatology, assuring believers of a tangible future event rather than a symbolic one.
• The immediate purpose was to give the apostles certainty and refocus them for the crucial period of church establishment that was about to begin with Pentecost. They were given a powerful hope and mandate for their pioneering work.

Acts 1 11 Commentary

Acts 1:11 serves as a foundational promise for the nascent Christian community and all future believers. It grounds the future hope of Christ's return in the tangible reality of His Ascension. The angels' query to the "Men of Galilee" gently challenges passive waiting and redirect their attention to the active mission Jesus had just commanded (Acts 1:8). This verse effectively communicates that Christian eschatological hope is not merely a belief in a future spiritual presence, but a steadfast assurance in the physical, visible, and personal return of Jesus. The crucial phrase "in like manner" ensures that the Second Coming will mirror the Ascension: physical, visible, personal, from heaven, and likely accompanied by a cloud. This detailed description provides a clear and enduring expectation, empowering believers to be active witnesses while they wait, transforming a speculative gaze into purposeful action. The truth of Christ's departure, seen by them, guarantees the certainty of His promised arrival.