Acts 1
1 The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach,
The first account which I drew up, Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus did and taught from the very first,
2 Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up.
down to that day on which he was taken up to heaven, after he had, by the help of the Holy Spirit, given instructions to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God.
With abundant proofs, he showed himself to them, still living, after his death; appearing to them from time to time during forty days, and speaking of all that related to the kingdom of God.
4 And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth.
And once, when he had gathered them together, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the fulfilment of the Father’s promise – ‘that promise,’ he said, ‘of which you have heard me speak;
5 For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence.
for, while John baptized with water, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit before many days have passed.’
6 They therefore who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
So, when the apostles had met together, they asked Jesus this question – ‘Master, is this the time when you intend to re-establish the kingdom for Israel?’
7 But he said to them: It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power:
His answer was, ‘It is not for you to know times or hours, for the Father has reserved these for his own decision;
8 But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
but you will receive power, when the Holy Spirit will have descended on you, and will be witnesses for me not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
9 And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.
No sooner had Jesus said this than he was caught up before their eyes, and a cloud received him from their sight.
10 And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments.
While they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them,
11 Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.
and said, ‘People of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up into the heavens? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into the heavens, will come in the same way in which you have seen him go into the heavens.’
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbath day’s journey.
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is about three quarters of a mile from the city.
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James.
When they reached Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room, where they were staying. There were there Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14 All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
They all united in devoting themselves to prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren, said: (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty: )
About this time, at a meeting of the Lord’s followers, when there were about a hundred and twenty present, Peter rose to speak.
16 Men, brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended Jesus:
‘Friends,’ he said, ‘it was necessary that the prediction of scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit made by the lips of David about Judas, who acted as guide to the men who arrested Jesus,
17 Who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
for he was one of our number and had his part allotted him in this work of ours.’
18 And he indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged, burst asunder in the midst: and all his bowels gushed out.
(This man had bought a piece of land with the price of his treachery; and, falling heavily, his body had burst open, and all his bowels protruded.
19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so that the same field was called in their tongue, Haceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
This became known to everyone living in Jerusalem, so that the field came to be called, in their language, “Akeldama,” which means the “Field of Blood.”)
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let another take.
‘For in the book of Psalms,’ Peter continued, ‘it is said – “Let his home become desolate, and let no one live in it”; and also – “His office let another take.”
21 Wherefore of these men who have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us,
Therefore, from among the men who have been with us all the time that Jesus, our Master, went in and out among us –
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, until the day wherein he was taken up from us, one of these must be made a witness with us of his resurrection.
from his baptism by John down to that day on which he was taken from us – someone must be found to join us as a witness of his resurrection.’
23 And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, whose other name was Justus, and Matthias;
24 And praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
and they offered this prayer – ‘Lord, who reads all hearts, show which of these two men you have chosen
25 To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place.
to take the place in this apostolic work, which Judas has abandoned, to go to his proper place.’
26 And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Then they drew lots between them; and, the lot having fallen to Matthias, he was added to the number of the eleven apostles.
