To have one’s eyes fixed on something is a favorite Lukan expression (the verb he uses here is used fourteen times in the New Testament, twelve times by Luke himself). It means to look at something intently. Furthermore, the form of the verb, as well as the meaning of the verb itself, underscores the intensity with which the disciples were staring into the sky as Jesus was taken away.

An expression such as had their eyes fixed on the sky is effective in present-day English, but in most languages a verbal form of “seeing” or “looking” is required, for example, “looked continuously toward the sky,” “gazed strongly at the sky,” or “tried very hard to see into the sky.” In a number of languages one can and should shift the order of the “going,” for example, “as Jesus was going away up into the sky, the apostles looked constantly.” This expression is then followed by the dependent expression introducing the two men.

The two men dressed in white are, of course, angels; “white” is the traditional dress of angels in Jewish and Christian tradition. Suddenly is rendered in some other translations by “behold.” The word itself is a particle which generally is used to call attention to what follows; but in certain contexts it may be translated in other ways, and here the meaning “suddenly” or “all at once” (New English Bible) seems best suited to the context.

Even though these two men were angels, it is better in the translation to preserve the meaning of the original text and use simply “two men.” A footnote could be used to indicate that angels are often spoken of in Scripture in this manner.

The phrase dressed in white may be rendered as “with white clothes” or “wearing shining garments.”

The verb “stand” suggests something more than “stand up” or “be standing.” In some languages one must use a compound verb phrase “came and stood” or “arrived and stood,” since the men were not continuously there, at least not visibly so. In other languages, the verb “stand” may be translated as “begin to stand” or “came to stand.”

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 .