taken up = lifted up. Greek. epairo. First occurance Mat_17:8. Always in Gospels, "lift up".
a cloud. Not a rain cloud of the earth, but referring to the attendant angelic hosts. Compare Psa_24:7-10; Psa_47:5. Mat_24:30; Mat_26:64. 1Th_4:17. Rev_1:7; Rev_11:12.