Acts 1

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

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

6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.

17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
18 (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.

19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:
“ ‘May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,’
and,
“ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 So they proposed the names of two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”

26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

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