Acts 1
1 The former narrative I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus both 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 in which, after he had through the Holy Spirit given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up;
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 also he showed himself living, after he had suffered, by many sure proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the 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 while in assembly with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for what had been promised by the Father, which [[said he]] ye heard from me;
And once, when he had gathered them together, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the fulfilment of the Father’s promise — “that promise,” he said, “of which you have heard me speak;
5 for John indeed baptized with water, but ye will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.
for, while John baptized with water, you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit before many days have passed.”
6 They therefore, having come together, asked him, saying, Lord, art thou at this time about to restore the kingdom to Israel?
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 But he said to them, It belongeth not to you to know times or seasons, which the Father appointed by 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 ye will receive power when the Holy Spirit hath come upon you; and ye will be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
but you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit shall have descended upon you, and shall be witnesses for me not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 And having thus spoken, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received 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 while they were looking earnestly into heaven as he went up, lo! two men stood by them in white apparel,
While they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them,
11 who said, Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This Jesus, who hath been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same manner in which ye beheld him going into heaven.
and said: “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up into the heavens? This very Jesus, who has been taken from you into the heavens, will come in the very way in which you have seen him go into the heavens.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem, from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, within 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 And when they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were making their abode, namely, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the zealot, and Judas the brother 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 These all continued with one accord in prayer, with women and Mary the mother of Jesus, 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 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said, (the number of the names together was about one hundred and twenty, )
About this time, at a meeting of the Brethren, when there were about a hundred and twenty present, Peter rose to speak.
16 Brethren, it was necessary that this scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who became guide to those who took Jesus.
“Brothers,” 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 that arrested Jesus,
17 For he was numbered among us, and obtained the allotment of this ministry.
for he was one of our number and had his part allotted him in this work of ours.”
18 Now this man purchased a field with the wages of the iniquity; and falling headlong he burst asunder in the middle, and all his bowels gushed 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 the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that that field is called in their own tongue, Aceldamach, that is, Field of Blood.
This became known to every one living in Jerusalem, so that the field came to be called, in their language, ‘Akeldama,’ which means the ‘Field of Blood.’)
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, “Let his habitation be made desolate, and let no one dwell therein;” and, “Let another take his office.”
“For in the Book of Psalms,” Peter continued, “it is said — ‘Let his dwelling become desolate, And let no one live in it’; and also — ‘His office let another take.’
21 Of these men, therefore, who 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 from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us, must one be made a witness with us of his resurrection.
From his baptism by John down to that day on which he was taken from us — some one must be found to join us as a witness of his resurrection.”
23 And they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabas, whose other name was Justus, and Matthias;
24 And they prayed saying, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which of these two thou hast chosen
and they offered this prayer — “O Lord, who reads all hearts, show which of these two men you have chosen
25 to take the part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell away, that he might go to 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 lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Then they drew lots between them; and, the lot having fallen on Matthias, he was added to the number of the eleven Apostles.
