Acts 1
1 Dear Theophilus, in my previous book I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
The first account which I drew up, Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus did and taught from the very first,
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.
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 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.
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 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 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 It's true that John baptized with water, but in just a few days' time you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.”
for, while John baptized with water, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit before many days have passed.”
6 So when the disciples met with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will re-establish Israel's kingdom?”
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 “You don't need to know about the dates and times that are set by the Father's authority,” he told them.
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 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 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 After Jesus had told them this, he was taken up as they were watching and a cloud hid him from 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 While they were staring intently at the sky as he ascended, two men dressed in white were suddenly standing beside them.
While they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them,
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.”
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 the disciples went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives which is about a Sabbath day's walk from Jerusalem.
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 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.
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 They all joined together in prayer, together with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and 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 At this time Peter stood up and addressed a crowd of around one hundred and twenty believers who had gathered together.
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 “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.
“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 He was counted as one of us, and shared in this ministry.”
for he was one of our number and had his part allotted him in this work of ours.”
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.
(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 Everybody who lived in Jerusalem heard about this so that the field was called in their language “Akeldama,” which means, “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 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 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 now we have to choose someone who has been with us the whole time that Jesus was with 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 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.”
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 Two names were put forward: Joseph Justus, also known as Barsabbas, and Matthias.
So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, whose other name was 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 they offered this prayer – “Lord, who reads all hearts, show which of these two men you have 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 in this apostolic work, which Judas has abandoned, to go to his proper place.”
26 They cast lots, and Matthias was chosen. He was counted as an apostle with the other eleven.
Then they drew lots between them; and, the lot having fallen to Matthias, he was added to the number of the eleven apostles.
