Acts 1
1 The first account I prepared, Theophilus [God-lover], concerned all that 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 in which He was taken back, after He had given commandment, by Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom He had chosen;
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 He also showed Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing evidences, appearing to them during forty days and speaking of things pertaining to 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 being together He directed them not to go away from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, “which you heard from me;
And once, when he had gathered them together, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the fulfillment of the Father’s promise – “that promise,” he said, “of which you have heard me speak;
5 John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
for, while John baptized with water, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit before many days have passed.”
6 Well then, being together they asked Him saying, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
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 So He said to them: “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has placed within His own authority.
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 will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be witnesses to me—both in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and even to the last 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 Upon saying these things, as they watched, He was lifted up, and a cloud took 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 as they were staring into the sky, while He was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood beside them;
While they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them,
11 and they said: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into the sky? This very Jesus who is being taken up from you into the sky, He will come again in the precise manner that you observed Him going into the sky.”
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 They then returned to Jerusalem from the mount called ‘of Olives’, which is near Jerusalem (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 When they had entered [the city] they went up into the upper room where they were staying: namely Peter and James, John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas 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 continuing with one purpose in prayer and petition, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
They all united in devoting themselves to prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 Well in those days Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (the number of people assembled there was about 120) and said:
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, brothers: It was necessary that this Scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by David's mouth concerning Judas, who was guide to those who arrested 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 in that he was numbered with us and obtained his share in this ministry.”
for he was one of our number and had his part allotted him in this work of ours.”
18 (In fact this man acquired a field with the wages of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle, and all his innards were spilled 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 who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field came to be called ‘Akeldama’, that is, ‘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 “Because it stands written in Book of Psalms: ‘Let his residence become desolate, and may no one live in it’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’
“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 So then, of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and 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 when He was taken up from us, of these one must become 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 So they nominated 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: “You, Lord, Knower of all hearts, show which one of these two You have chosen
and they offered this prayer – “Lord, who reads all hearts, show which of these two men you have chosen
25 to receive the portion of this ministry and apostleship, out of which Judas turned aside to go into his own place.”
to take the place in this apostolic work, which Judas has abandoned, to go to his proper place.”
26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on 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.
