Acts 1
1 The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
The first account which I drew up, Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus did and taught from the very first,
2 until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
down to that day on which he was taken up to heaven, after he had, by the help of the Holy Spirit, given instructions to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3 To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God’s Kingdom.
With abundant proofs, he showed himself to them, still living, after his death; appearing to them from time to time during forty days, and speaking of all that related to the kingdom of God.
4 Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.
And once, when he had gathered them together, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the fulfilment of the Father’s promise – ‘that promise,’ he said, ‘of which you have heard me speak;
5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
for, while John baptized with water, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit before many days have passed.’
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
So, when the apostles had met together, they asked Jesus this question – ‘Master, is this the time when you intend to re-establish the kingdom for Israel?’
7 He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
His answer was, ‘It is not for you to know times or hours, for the Father has reserved these for his own decision;
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
but you will receive power, when the Holy Spirit will have descended on you, and will be witnesses for me not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
9 When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
No sooner had Jesus said this than he was caught up before their eyes, and a cloud received him from their sight.
10 While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
While they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them,
11 who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
and said, ‘People of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up into the heavens? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into the heavens, will come in the same way in which you have seen him go into the heavens.’
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is about three quarters of a mile from the city.
13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying, that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
When they reached Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room, where they were staying. There were there Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
They all united in devoting themselves to prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,
About this time, at a meeting of the Lord’s followers, when there were about a hundred and twenty present, Peter rose to speak.
16 “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.
‘Friends,’ he said, ‘it was necessary that the prediction of scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit made by the lips of David about Judas, who acted as guide to the men who arrested Jesus,
17 For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry.
for he was one of our number and had his part allotted him in this work of ours.’
18 Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness; and falling headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines gushed out.
(This man had bought a piece of land with the price of his treachery; and, falling heavily, his body had burst open, and all his bowels protruded.
19 It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’
This became known to everyone living in Jerusalem, so that the field came to be called, in their language, “Akeldama,” which means the “Field of Blood.”)
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell in it;’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’
‘For in the book of Psalms,’ Peter continued, ‘it is said – “Let his home become desolate, and let no one live in it”; and also – “His office let another take.”
21 “Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Therefore, from among the men who have been with us all the time that Jesus, our Master, went in and out among us –
22 beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
from his baptism by John down to that day on which he was taken from us – someone must be found to join us as a witness of his resurrection.’
23 They put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, whose other name was Justus, and Matthias;
24 They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen
and they offered this prayer – ‘Lord, who reads all hearts, show which of these two men you have chosen
25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.”
to take the place in this apostolic work, which Judas has abandoned, to go to his proper place.’
26 They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Then they drew lots between them; and, the lot having fallen to Matthias, he was added to the number of the eleven apostles.
