Acts 1

Chapter 1

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 In my first bookt I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.

3 During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.

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

The Ascension of Jesus

6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.

11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Matthias Replaces Judas

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile.t

13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.

Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James).

14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
15 During this time, when about 120 believerst were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them.16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David.

17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”
18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines.

19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)

20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’t
21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus—

22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.”

26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become 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