Acts 1
1 Dear Theophilus, in my previous book I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both 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 in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit 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.
To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God’s Kingdom.
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.
Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.
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 in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when the disciples met with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will re-establish Israel's kingdom?”
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring 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.
He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
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 has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts 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.
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken 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.
While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
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, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
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 mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
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 had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying, that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, 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.
All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 At this time Peter stood up and addressed a crowd of around one hundred and twenty believers who had gathered together.
In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,
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.
“Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.
17 He was counted as one of us, and shared in this ministry.”
For he was counted with us, and received his portion in 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.
Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness; and falling headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines 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.”)
It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘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 his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell in it;’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’
21 “So now we have to choose someone who has been with us the whole time that Jesus was with us,
“Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus 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.”
beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 Two names were put forward: Joseph Justus, also known as Barsabbas, and Matthias.
They put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called 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
They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two 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 part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, 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.
They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
