< Acts 1 >
1 The former narrative I composed, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began to do and teach,
2 even to the day in which he was taken up, after he had, by the Holy Spirit, given charge to the Apostles, whom he had chosen.
3 To whom, also, he presented himself alive, after his sufferings, by many infallible proofs; being seen by them forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
4 And having assembled them together, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, you have heard from me.
5 For John, indeed, immersed in water, but you shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit, within a few days.
6 They, therefore, being assembled together, asked him, saying, Lord, wilt thou, at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel?
7 But he said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has reserved to himself.
8 But you shall receive power by the Holy Spirit coming upon you, and shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and even to the remotest parts of the earth.
9 And, having said these things, while they beheld, he was lifted up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they were steadfastly looking up to heaven, as he ascended, behold two men in white raiment stood near them;
11 who also said, Galileans, why do you stand gazing up to heaven? This Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall also come in the same manner as you have seen him going to heaven.
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem, from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey.
13 And when they were come into the city, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alpheus, and Simon, the Zealot, and Judas, brother of James.
14 These all unanimously persevered in prayer, with the women, and with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15 And in these days, Peter, rising up in the midst of the disciples, (now the number of persons assembled was about a hundred and twenty, ) said
16 Brethren, it was necessary this scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit formerly spoke, by the mouth of David, with respect to Judas, who became the guide of those that apprehended Jesus:
17 (for he was numbered with us, and had obtained a part of this ministry: )
18 this man, therefore, purchased a field with the reward of iniquity, and falling down on his face, he burst asunder in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out:
19 and it was known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that field is called, in their language, Aceldama, that is, The Field of Blood.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, "Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell in it": and, "Let another take his office."
21 It is necessary, therefore, that one of the men who have continued with us all the time the Lord Jesus was conversant among us,
22 commencing from his immersion by John, until the day of his assumption, should be constituted a witness with us, of his resurrection.
23 And they set up two men, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, saying, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all, show which of these two thou hast chosen,
25 that he may take part of the ministry and apostleship, from which Judas fell by transgression, that he might goes to his own place.
26 And they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.
