Acts 1
1 Dear Theophilus, in my previous book I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach,
2 until the day he was taken up to heaven. This was after he'd given instructions through the Holy Spirit to his chosen apostles.
Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up.
3 Over the course of forty days after the death he suffered, he showed himself to them, proving that he was alive with convincing evidence. He appeared to them, and told them about the kingdom of God.
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.
4 While he was still with them he instructed them, “Do not leave Jerusalem. Wait to receive what the Father promised, just as you heard it from me.
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.
5 It's true that John baptized with water, but in just a few days' time you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.”
For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence.
6 So when the disciples met with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will re-establish Israel's kingdom?”
They therefore who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 “You don't need to know about the dates and times that are set by the Father's authority,” he told them.
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:
8 “But you will be given power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest places on earth.”
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.
9 After Jesus had told them this, he was taken up as they were watching and a cloud hid him from their sight.
And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 While they were staring intently at the sky as he ascended, two men dressed in white were suddenly standing beside them.
And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments.
11 “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky?” they asked. “This same Jesus who has been taken up from you to heaven shall come in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
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.
12 Then the disciples went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives which is about a Sabbath day's walk from Jerusalem.
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbath day’s journey.
13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying: 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.
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.
14 They all joined together in prayer, together with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15 At this time Peter stood up and addressed a crowd of around one hundred and twenty believers who had gathered together.
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: )
16 “My brothers and sisters,” he said, “The Scriptures, spoken by the Holy Spirit through David, had to be fulfilled regarding Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus.
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:
17 He was counted as one of us, and shared in this ministry.”
Who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18 (Judas had bought a field with his ill-gotten gains. There he fell down headfirst, and his body burst apart, spilling out all his intestines.
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.
19 Everybody who lived in Jerusalem heard about this so that the field was called in their language “Akeldama,” which means, “Field of blood.”)
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.
20 As it's written in the book of Psalms, “Let his home be abandoned, and no-one live there;” and “Let someone else take over his position.”
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.
21 “So now we have to choose someone who has been with us the whole time that Jesus was with us,
Wherefore of these men who have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us,
22 from the time John was baptizing up until the day Jesus was taken up to heaven from us. One of these must be chosen to join together with us as we witness, giving evidence of Jesus' resurrection.”
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.
23 Two names were put forward: Joseph Justus, also known as Barsabbas, and Matthias.
And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 They prayed together and said, “Lord, you know everyone's thoughts please show us which of these two you have chosen
And praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 to replace Judas as an apostle in this ministry that he gave up to go to where he belongs.”
To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place.
26 They cast lots, and Matthias was chosen. He was counted as an apostle with the other eleven.
And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
