Since the statement of the two men is a question, it must be introduced by a question term in many languages, for example, “they asked, …” For problems of word order involving verbs of speaking, see 7.27.

The phrase men of Galilee is equivalent to “men who come from Galilee” or “men whose home is in Galilee.” All languages have a means by which people may be identified as coming from a particular locality.

On the sky (v. 10), at the sky (v. 11), and into heaven (v. 11) all translate the same expression, literally “into the heaven.” But the Greek word “heaven” may be used either as the abode of God, that is, heaven, or merely as the sky. Jesus is taken into heaven, whereas the disciples gaze up at the sky.

For many languages there is simply no distinction between the physical sky and the abode of God. When there is no distinction in terminology, it is quite unnecessary to try to translate “heaven” always as “the place where God lives.” In a context such as this, a term for “sky” will normally serve quite well for both “heaven” and “sky.”

The expression this Jesus may require certain adjustments in other languages, since proper names may not occur with a demonstrative such as “this.” An equivalent could be “this person Jesus” or “this one, called Jesus”—some sort of appositional relation is found in all languages.

In the same way refers to the manner of the Lord’s return, that is, on the clouds of heaven, as is depicted in other passages of the New Testament. This may be rendered in some languages as “just like he went.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .