Acts 1
1 IN THE former account [which I prepared], O Theophilus, I made [a continuous report] dealing with all the things which Jesus began to do and to teach 2 Until the day when He ascended, after He through the Holy Spirit had instructed and commanded the apostles (special messengers) whom He had chosen.3 To them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross) by [a series of] many convincing demonstrations [unquestionable evidences and infallible proofs], appearing to them during forty days and talking [to them] about the things of the kingdom of God.4 And while being in their company and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, Of which [He said] you have heard Me speak. 5 For John baptized with water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with (placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit.6 So when they were assembled, they asked Him, Lord, is this the time when You will reestablish the kingdom and restore it to Israel?7 He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.9 And when He had said this, even as they were looking [at Him], He was caught up, and a cloud received and carried Him away out of their sight.10 And while they were gazing intently into heaven as He went, behold, two men [dressed] in white robes suddenly stood beside them,11 Who said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This same Jesus, Who was caught away and lifted up from among you into heaven, will return in [just] the same way in which you saw Him go into heaven.12 Then [the disciples] went back to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, [only] a Sabbath day’s journey (three-quarters of a mile) away.13 And when they had entered [the city], they mounted [the stairs] to the upper room where they were [indefinitely] staying--Peter and John and James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas [son] of James.14 All of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, [waiting together] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.15 Now on one of those days Peter arose among the brethren, the whole number of whom gathered together was about a hundred and twenty.16 Brethren, he said, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit foretold by the lips of David, about Judas who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.17 For he was counted among us and received [by divine allotment] his portion in this ministry.18 Now this man obtained a piece of land with the [money paid him as a] reward for his treachery and wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle [of his body] and all his intestines poured forth.19 And all the residents of Jerusalem became acquainted with the facts, so that they called the piece of land in their own dialect--Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.20 For in the book of Psalms it is written, Let his place of residence become deserted and gloomy, and let there be no one to live in it; and [again], Let another take his position or overseership. 21 So one of the [other] men who have accompanied us [apostles] during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,22 From the baptism of John at the outset until the day when He was taken up from among us--one of these men must join with us and become a witness to testify to His resurrection.23 And they accordingly proposed (nominated) two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.24 And they prayed and said, You, Lord, Who know all hearts (their thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, purposes, and endeavors), indicate to us which one of these two You have chosen25 To take the place in this ministry and receive the position of an apostle, from which Judas fell away and went astray to go [where he belonged] to his own [proper] place.26 And they drew lots [between the two], and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to and counted with the eleven apostles (special messengers).
Acts 1
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
1 I wrotet the formert account,ts Theophilus,t about all that Jesus began to do and teach2 until the day he was taken up to heaven,t after he had given orderst byt the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.3 To the same apostlest also, after his suffering,s he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day periodt and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.4 While he was with them,t he declared,t “Do not leave Jerusalem,s but wait theret for what myt Father promised,t which you heard about from me.t
5 Fort John baptized with water, but yout will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him,t “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”7 He told them, “You are not permitted to knowt the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest partst of the earth.”9 Aftert he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight.10 Ast they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenlyt two men in white clothing stood near them
11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand heret looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heavenst will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
A Replacement for Judas is Chosen
12 Then they returned to Jerusalems from the mountaint called the Mount of Olivess (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journeys away).13 Whent they had entered Jerusalem,t they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peters and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James were there.t14 All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.s15 In those dayst Peter stood up among the believerst (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty people) and said,16 “Brothers,t the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold throught David concerning Judas – who became the guide for those who arrested Jesus –17 for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.”t18 (Now this man Judast acquired a field with the reward of his unjust deed,t and falling headfirstt he burst open in the middle and all his intestinest gushed out.19 Thist became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own languages they called that fieldtHakeldama, that is, “Field of Blood.”)20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his house become deserted,tand let there be no one to live in it,’s and ‘Let another take his position of responsibility.’ts21 Thus one of the ment who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated witht us,22 beginning from his baptism by John until the day het was taken up from us – one of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.”23 So theys proposed two candidates:t Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias.24 Then they prayed,t “Lord, you know the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen25 to assume the taskt of this servicet and apostleship from which Judas turned asidet to go to his own place.”s
26 Thent they cast lots for them, and the one chosen was Matthias;t so he was counted with the eleven apostles.t