Acts 1

Jesus Is Taken Up Into Heaven

1 Theophilus, I wrote about Jesus in my earlier book. I wrote about all he did and taught2 until the day he was taken up to heaven. Before Jesus left, he gave orders to the apostles he had chosen. He did this through the Holy Spirit.3 After his suffering and death, he appeared to them. In many ways he proved that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days. During that time he spoke about God's kingdom.
4 One day Jesus was eating with them. He gave them a command. "Do not leave Jerusalem," he said. "Wait for the gift my Father promised. You have heard me talk about it.5 John baptized with water. But in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6 When the apostles met together, they asked Jesus a question. "Lord," they said, "are you going to give the kingdom back to Israel now?"
7 He said to them, "You should not be concerned about times or dates. The Father has set them by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. You will be my witnesses in all Judea and Samaria. And you will be my witnesses from one end of the earth to the other."
9 After Jesus said this, he was taken up to heaven. They watched until a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 While he was going up, they kept on looking at the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothing stood beside them.11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. But he will come back in the same way you saw him go."

Matthias Is Chosen to Take the Place of Judas

12 The apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. It is almost a mile from the city.13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Peter, John, James and Andrew were there. Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew were there too. So were James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas, son of James.14 They all came together regularly to pray. The women joined them too. So did Jesus' mother Mary and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers. About 120 of them were there.16 Peter said, "Brothers, a long time ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David's mouth about Judas. What he said in Scripture had to come true. Judas was the guide for the men who arrested Jesus.17 But Judas was one of us. He shared with us in our work for God."
18 Judas bought a field with the reward he got for the evil thing he had done. He fell down headfirst in the field. His body burst open. All his insides spilled out.19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this. So they called that field Akeldama. In their language, Akeldama means The Field of Blood.

20 Peter said, "Here is what is written in the book of Psalms. It says,
" 'May his home be deserted.
May no one live in it.' (Psalm 69:25)
The Psalms also say,
" 'Let someone else take his place as leader.' (Psalm 109:8)21 So we need to choose someone to take his place. It will have to be a man who was with us the whole time the Lord Jesus lived among us.22 That time began when John was baptizing. It ended when Jesus was taken up from us. The one we choose must join us in giving witness that Jesus rose from the dead."
23 So they suggested two men. One was Joseph, who was called Barsabbas. He was also called Justus. The other man was Matthias.24 Then they prayed. "Lord," they said, "you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen.25 Show us who should take the place of Judas as an apostle. He gave up being an apostle to go where he belongs."26 Then they cast lots. Matthias was chosen. So he was added to the 11 apostles.

Acts 1

1 The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,2 until the day in which he was received up, after that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen:3 To whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God:4 and, being assembled together with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye heard from me:5 For John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.6 They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.10 And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;11 who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey off.13 And when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were abiding; both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.14 These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.15 And in these days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said (and there was a multitude of persons gathered together, about a hundred and twenty),16 Brethren, it was needful that the Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spake before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus.17 For he was numbered among us, and received his portion in this ministry.18 (Now this man obtained a field with the reward of his iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.19 And it became known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch that in their language that field was called Akeldama, that is, The field of blood.)20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be made desolate, And let no man dwell therein: and, His office let another take.

21 Of the men therefore that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us,22 beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection.23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen,25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.26 And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.