Acts 1
1 Dear Theophilus, in my previous book I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
Certainly, O Theophilus, I composed the first discourse about everything that Jesus began to do and to teach,
2 until the day he was taken up to heaven. This was after he'd given instructions through the Holy Spirit to his chosen apostles.
instructing the Apostles, whom he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, even until the day on which he was taken up.
3 Over the course of forty days after the death he suffered, he showed himself to them, proving that he was alive with convincing evidence. He appeared to them, and told them about the kingdom of God.
He also presented himself alive to them, after his Passion, appearing to them throughout forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God with many elucidations.
4 While he was still with them he instructed them, “Do not leave Jerusalem. Wait to receive what the Father promised, just as you heard it from me.
And dining with them, he instructed them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but that they should wait for the Promise of the Father, “about which you have heard,” he said, “from my own mouth.
5 It's true that John baptized with water, but in just a few days' time you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.”
For John, indeed, baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit, not many days from now.”
6 So when the disciples met with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will re-establish Israel's kingdom?”
Therefore, those who had assembled together questioned him, saying, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?”
7 “You don't need to know about the dates and times that are set by the Father's authority,” he told them.
But he said to them: “It is not yours to know the times or the moments, which the Father has set by his own authority.
8 “But you will be given power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest places on earth.”
But you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit, passing over you, and you shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”
9 After Jesus had told them this, he was taken up as they were watching and a cloud hid him from their sight.
And when he had said these things, while they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
10 While they were staring intently at the sky as he ascended, two men dressed in white were suddenly standing beside them.
And while they were watching him going up to heaven, behold, two men stood near them in white vestments.
11 “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky?” they asked. “This same Jesus who has been taken up from you to heaven shall come in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
And they said: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall return in just the same way that you have seen him going up to heaven.”
12 Then the disciples went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives which is about a Sabbath day's walk from Jerusalem.
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain, which is called Olivet, which is next to Jerusalem, within a Sabbath day’s journey.
13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying: 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.
And when they had entered into the cenacle, they ascended to the place where Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude of James, were staying.
14 They all joined together in prayer, together with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
All these were persevering with one accord in prayer with the women, and with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 At this time Peter stood up and addressed a crowd of around one hundred and twenty believers who had gathered together.
In those days, Peter, rising up in the midst of the brothers, said (now the crowd of men altogether was about one hundred and twenty):
16 “My brothers and sisters,” he said, “The Scriptures, spoken by the Holy Spirit through David, had to be fulfilled regarding Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus.
“Noble brothers, the Scripture must be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit predicted by the mouth of David about Judas, who was the leader of those who apprehended Jesus.
17 He was counted as one of us, and shared in this ministry.”
He had been numbered among us, and he was chosen by lot for this ministry.
18 (Judas had bought a field with his ill-gotten gains. There he fell down headfirst, and his body burst apart, spilling out all his intestines.
And this man certainly possessed an estate from the wages of iniquity, and so, having been hanged, he burst open in the middle and all his internal organs poured out.
19 Everybody who lived in Jerusalem heard about this so that the field was called in their language “Akeldama,” which means, “Field of blood.”)
And this became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that this field was called in their language, Akeldama, that is, ‘Field of Blood.’
20 As it's written in the book of Psalms, “Let his home be abandoned, and no-one live there;” and “Let someone else take over his position.”
For it has been written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let their dwelling place be desolate and may there be no one who dwells within it,’ and ‘Let another take his episcopate.’
21 “So now we have to choose someone who has been with us the whole time that Jesus was with us,
Therefore, it is necessary that, out of these men who have been assembling with us throughout the entire time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 from the time John was baptizing up until the day Jesus was taken up to heaven from us. One of these must be chosen to join together with us as we witness, giving evidence of Jesus' resurrection.”
beginning from the baptism of John, until the day when he was taken up from us, one of these be made a witness with us of his Resurrection.”
23 Two names were put forward: Joseph Justus, also known as Barsabbas, and Matthias.
And they appointed two: Joseph, who was called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 They prayed together and said, “Lord, you know everyone's thoughts please show us which of these two you have chosen
And praying, they said: “May you, O Lord, who knows the heart of everyone, reveal which one of these two you have chosen,
25 to replace Judas as an apostle in this ministry that he gave up to go to where he belongs.”
to take a place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas prevaricated, so that he might go to his own place.”
26 They cast lots, and Matthias was chosen. He was counted as an apostle with the other eleven.
And they cast lots concerning them, and the lot fell upon Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.
