Acts 1

Luke Writes Another Book

1 To Theophilus.
The first book I wrote was about everything Jesus began to do and teach2 until the day he was taken up into heaven. Before this, with the help of the Holy Spirit, Jesus told the apostles he had chosen what they should do.3 After his death, he showed himself to them and proved in many ways that he was alive. The apostles saw Jesus during the forty days after he was raised from the dead, and he spoke to them about the kingdom of God.4 Once when he was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “Wait here to receive the promise from the Father which I told you about.

5 John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus Is Taken Up into Heaven

6 When the apostles were all together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, are you now going to give the kingdom back to Israel?”
7 Jesus said to them, “The Father is the only One who has the authority to decide dates and times. These things are not for you to know.

8 But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”
9 After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud hid him from their sight.10 As he was going, they were looking into the sky. Suddenly, two men wearing white clothes stood beside them.

11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus, whom you saw taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go.”

A New Apostle Is Chosen

12 Then they went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. (This mountain is about half a mile from Jerusalem.)13 When they entered the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon (known as the Zealot), and Judas son of James were there.

14 They all continued praying together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers.
15 During this time there was a meeting of the believers (about one hundred twenty of them). Peter stood up and said,16-17 “Brothers and sisters, in the Scriptures the Holy Spirit said through David something that must happen involving Judas. He was one of our own group and served together with us. He led those who arrested Jesus.”18 (Judas bought a field with the money he got for his evil act. But he fell to his death, his body burst open, and all his intestines poured out.19 Everyone in Jerusalem learned about this so they named this place Akeldama. In their language Akeldama means “Field of Blood.”)

20 “In the Book of Psalms,” Peter said, “this is written:
‘May his place be empty; leave no one to live in it.’ t
And it is also written:
‘Let another man replace him as leader.’ t

21-22 “So now a man must become a witness with us of Jesus’ being raised from the dead. He must be one of the men who were part of our group during all the time the Lord Jesus was among us—from the time John was baptizing people until the day Jesus was taken up from us to heaven.”
23 They put the names of two men before the group. One was Joseph Barsabbas, who was also called Justus. The other was Matthias.24-25 The apostles prayed, “Lord, you know the thoughts of everyone. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to do this work. Show us who should be an apostle in place of Judas, who turned away and went where he belongs.”26 Then they used lots to choose between them, and the lots showed that Matthias was the one. So he became an apostle with the other eleven.

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