Acts 1
1 Dear Theophilus, in my previous book I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
THE former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and 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.
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
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.
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
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, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
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 truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 So when the disciples met with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will re-establish Israel's kingdom?”
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 “You don't need to know about the dates and times that are set by the Father's authority,” he told them.
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
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 ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part 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 spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of 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 looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
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.”
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into 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 returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem 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 were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 They all joined together in prayer, together with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15 At this time Peter stood up and addressed a crowd of around one hundred and twenty believers who had gathered together.
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an 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.
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 He was counted as one of us, and shared in this ministry.”
For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of 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.
Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed 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 it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The 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 is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
21 “So now we have to choose someone who has been with us the whole time that Jesus was with us,
Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the 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, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be 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 called Barsabas, 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 they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 to replace Judas as an apostle in this ministry that he gave up to go to where he belongs.”
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, 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 gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
