Acts 1
1 The former narrative I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus both did and taught from the beginning
Dear Theophilus, in my previous book I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
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;
until the day he was taken up to heaven. This was after he'd given instructions through the Holy Spirit to his chosen apostles.
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.
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.
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;
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.
5 for John indeed baptized with water, but ye will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.
It's true that John baptized with water, but in just a few days' time you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.”
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 disciples met with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will re-establish Israel's kingdom?”
7 But he said to them, It belongeth not to you to know times or seasons, which the Father appointed by his own authority.
“You don't need to know about the dates and times that are set by the Father's authority,” he told them.
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 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.”
9 And having thus spoken, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
After Jesus had told them this, he was taken up as they were watching and a cloud hid 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 staring intently at the sky as he ascended, two men dressed in white were suddenly standing 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.
“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.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem, from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, within a sabbath-day's journey.
Then the disciples went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives which is about a Sabbath day's walk from Jerusalem.
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 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.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer, with women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
They all joined together in prayer, together with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, 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, )
At this time Peter stood up and addressed a crowd of around one hundred and twenty believers who had gathered together.
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.
“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.
17 For he was numbered among us, and obtained the allotment of this ministry.
He was counted as one of us, and shared in this ministry.”
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.
(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.
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.
Everybody who lived in Jerusalem heard about this so that the field was called in their language “Akeldama,” which means, “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.”
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.”
21 Of these men, therefore, who accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
“So now we have to choose someone who has been with us the whole time that Jesus was with 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 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.”
23 And they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Two names were put forward: Joseph Justus, also known as Barsabbas, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed saying, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which of these two thou hast chosen
They prayed together and said, “Lord, you know everyone's thoughts please show us which of these two 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 replace Judas as an apostle in this ministry that he gave up to go to where he belongs.”
26 And they cast lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
They cast lots, and Matthias was chosen. He was counted as an apostle with the other eleven.
