Acts 1
1 THE former treatise, Theophilus, I composed, concerning all things which 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 that day, when having given a charge to his apostles through the Holy Ghost, whom he had chosen, he was taken up:
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 whom also he had shewed himself alive, after he had suffered, by many infallible proofs, during forty days being frequently seen by them, and speaking of the things which relate to the kingdom 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 assembling them together, commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye have 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 baptised with water; but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days after the present.
for, while John baptized with water, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit before many days have passed.’
6 They then accordingly assembling together, asked him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time reestablish the kingdom of 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 But he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times and the seasons, which the Father hath reserved under 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 ye shall receive power, when the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses for me, both in Jerusalem, and throughout all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the extremity 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 as he was speaking these things, while they were looking upon him, he was taken up; and a cloud enveloping him hid him from their eyes.
No sooner had Jesus said this than he was caught up before their eyes, and a cloud received him from their sight.
10 And as they looked up earnestly into the heaven, while he was passing, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
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 to them, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up to heaven? this Jesus, who hath been taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in the same manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
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 unto Jerusalem, from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, about a sabbath-day’s journey distant.
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 had arrived, they went up to an upper room, where abode Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James son of Alpheus, and Simon the zealous, and Jude brother to 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 These all persevered unanimously in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, 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 days arose Peter in the midst of the disciples, and said, (there was a number of persons together, about an hundred and twenty, )
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 Men and brethren, it must needs be that this scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost delivered before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the conductor of those who seized on 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 reckoned of our number, and had obtained an appointment to this ministry.
for he was one of our number and had his part allotted him in this work of ours.’
18 This man indeed accordingly purchased a spot of ground with the wages of iniquity; and projected forward, he burst in the midst, and all his bowels fell 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 was a fact known to all who dwelt at Jerusalem; so that this field is called in their own dialect, 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 book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let there be no man to dwell in it: and his office, as bishop, let another take.
‘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 from among the men who have associated with us always during 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 his baptism by John, until the day in which he was taken up from us, must there be chosen with us a witness of his resurrection, even one of these.
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 So they appointed two persons, Joseph called Barsabas, whose sirname was Justus, and Matthias.
So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, whose other name was Justus, and Matthias;
24 And joining in prayer, they said, Do thou, O Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, point out the one of these two which thou hast chosen,
and they offered this prayer – ‘Lord, who reads all hearts, show which of these two men you have chosen
25 to take a part in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, to go to his own place.
to take the place in this apostolic work, which Judas has abandoned, to go to his proper place.’
26 And they drew lots for them and the lot fell to Matthias and he was by unanimous suffrage numbered 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.
