Acts 1
1 THE former book have I written, O Theophilus concerning all the things which our Lord Jesus Messiah began to do and teach,
Dear Theophilus, in my previous book I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had instructed those legates whom he had chosen by the Holy Spirit.
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 alive after he had suffered, by numerous signs, during forty days, while he was seen by them, and spoke of 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 when he had eaten bread with them, he instructed them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which (said he) ye have 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 baptized with water; but ye will be baptized with the Holy Spirit after not many days.
It's true that John baptized with water, but in just a few days' time you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.”
6 And they, when assembled, asked him and said to him: Our Lord, wilt thou at this time 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 He said to them: It is not yours, to know the time or times which God hath placed in his own power.
“You don't need to know about the dates and times that are set by the Father's authority,” he told them.
8 But when the Holy Spirit shall come upon you, ye will receive energy, and will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and also among the Samaritans, and unto the ends 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 when he had said these things, while they beheld him, he was taken up, and a cloud received him, and he was hidden from their eyes.
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 toward heav, as he departed, two men were found standing near them, in white garments,
While they were staring intently at the sky as he ascended, two men dressed in white were suddenly standing beside them.
11 and saying to them: Ye Galilean men, why stand ye and look toward heaven? This Jesus, who is taken up from you to heaven, will so come, as ye have seen him ascend to 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 And afterwards they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the place of Olives, which was near to Jerusalem, and distant from it about seven furlongs.
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 entered, they went to an upper chamber; where were Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, and Philip, and Thomas, and Matthew, and Bartholomew, and James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the son 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 All these unitedly persevered in prayer, with one soul, together with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
They all joined together in prayer, together with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
15 And in those days stood up Simon Cephas in the midst of the disciples, (the persons there assembled being about one hundred and twenty, ) and said:
At this time Peter stood up and addressed a crowd of around one hundred and twenty believers who had gathered together.
16 Men, brethren, it was right that the scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spake, by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to them that apprehended 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 with us, and had a part in this ministry.
He was counted as one of us, and shared in this ministry.”
18 He purchased a field with the wages of sin; and he fell upon his face on the ground, and burst in the middle, and all his entrails were poured 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 this was known to all that dwelt at Jerusalem; so that the field was called, in the language of the country, Aceldama, which is interpreted 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 desolate, and let no resident be in it; and let another take his service.
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 It should therefore be, that one of these persons, who have been with us all the time that our Lord Jesus went in and out with us,
“So now we have to choose someone who has been with us the whole time that Jesus was with us,
22 commencing from the baptism of John, unto the day he was taken up from us, should be, with us, a witness 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 Barsabas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias.
Two names were put forward: Joseph Justus, also known as Barsabbas, and Matthias.
24 And when they had prayed, they said: Thou, Lord, knowest what is in the hearts of all, manifest which thou hast chosen of these two,
They prayed together and said, “Lord, you know everyone's thoughts please show us which of these two you have chosen
25 that he should take part in this ministry and legateship, from which Judas broke 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, and it came upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven legates.
They cast lots, and Matthias was chosen. He was counted as an apostle with the other eleven.
