Acts 1
1 I have made the former treatise, O Theophilus, of al that Jesus began to doe and teach,
The first account which I drew up, Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus did and taught from the very first,
2 Vntill the day that hee was taken vp, after that hee through the holy Ghost, had giuen commandements vnto the Apostles, whome hee 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 whome also he presented himselfe aliue after that he had suffered, by many infallible tokens, being seene of them by the space of fourtie daies, and speaking of those thinges which appertaine to the kingdome of God.
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 And when he had gathered them together, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Hierusalem, but to waite for the promise of the Father, which sayde hee, yee haue heard of 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 Iohn in deede baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost within these fewe daies.
for, while John baptized with water, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit before many days have passed.’
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdome 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 And hee saide vnto them, It is not for you to know the times, or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his owne power,
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 yee shall receiue power of the holy Ghost, when he shall come on you: and ye shalbe witnesses vnto me both in Hierusalem and in all Iudea, and in Samaria, and vnto the vttermost part 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 And when he had spoken these things, while they behelde, he was taken vp: for a cloude tooke him vp 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 And while they looked stedfastly towarde heauen, as hee went, beholde, two men stoode by them in white apparell,
While they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them,
11 Which also sayde, Yee men of Galile, why stande yee gasing into heauen? This Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen, shall so come, as yee haue seene him goe into heauen.
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 returned they vnto Hierusalem from the mount that is called the mount of Oliues, which is neere to Hierusalem, being from it a Sabbath daies iourney.
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is about three quarters of a mile from the city.
13 And when they were come in, they went vp into an vpper chamber, where abode both Peter and Iames, and Iohn, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartlemew, and Matthewe, Iames the sonne of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Iudas Iames brother.
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 These all continued with one accorde in prayer and supplication with the women, and Marie the mother of Iesus, and with his brethren.
They all united in devoting themselves to prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 And in those dayes Peter stoode vp in the middes of the disciples, and sayde (nowe the nomber of names that were in one place were about an hundreth and twentie.)
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 Yee men and brethren, this scripture must needes haue beene fulfilled, which the holy Ghost by the mouth of Dauid spake before of Iudas, which was guide to them that tooke Iesus.
‘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 hee was nombred with vs, and had obteined fellowship in this ministration.
for he was one of our number and had his part allotted him in this work of ours.’
18 He therefore hath purchased a field with the reward of iniquitie: and when he had throwen downe himselfe headlong, hee brast asunder in the middes, and all his bowels 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 And it is knowen vnto all the inhabitants of Hierusalem, in so much, that that field is called in their owne language, Aceldama, 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 booke of Psalmes, Let his habitation be void, and let no man dwel therein: also, Let another take his charge.
‘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 Wherefore of these men which haue companied with vs, all the time that the Lord Iesus was conuersant among vs,
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 baptisme of Iohn vnto the day that hee was taken vp from vs, must one of them bee made a witnesse with vs 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 And they presented two, Ioseph called Barsabas, whose surname was Iustus, and Matthias.
So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, whose other name was Justus, and Matthias;
24 And they praied, saying, Thou Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shewe whether of these two thou hast chosen,
and they offered this prayer – ‘Lord, who reads all hearts, show which of these two men you have chosen
25 That he may take the roume of this ministration and Apostleship, from which Iudas hath gone astray, to goe to his owne place.
to take the place in this apostolic work, which Judas has abandoned, to go to his proper place.’
26 Then they gaue foorth their lottes: and the lotte fell on Matthias, and hee was by a common consent counted with the eleuen Apostles.
Then they drew lots between them; and, the lot having fallen to Matthias, he was added to the number of the eleven apostles.
