Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

1 In my former book,^(A) Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach^{(B) 2} until the day he was taken up to heaven,^(C) after giving instructions^(D) through the Holy Spirit to the apostles^(E) he had chosen.^{(F) 3} After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them^(G) over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.^{(H) 4} On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait^(I) for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.^{(J) 5} For John baptized with^[a] water,^(K) but in a few days you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”^(L)

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore^(M) the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.^{(N) 8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;^(O) and you will be my witnesses^(P) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,^(Q) and to the ends of the earth.”^(R)

⁹ After he said this, he was taken up^(S) before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white^(T) stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,”^(U) they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back^(V) in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

¹² Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem^(W) from the hill called the Mount of Olives,^(X) a Sabbath day’s walk^[c] from the city. ¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room^(Y) where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.^{(Z) 14} They all joined together constantly in prayer,^(AA) along with the women^(AB) and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.^(AC)

⁶ The Lord our God said to us^(A) at Horeb,^(B) “You have stayed long enough^(C) at this mountain. ⁷ Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites;^(D) go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah,^(E) in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev^(F) and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites^(G) and to Lebanon,^(H) as far as the great river, the Euphrates.^{(I) 8} See, I have given you this land^(J).^(K) Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore^(L) he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.”

The Appointment of Leaders

⁹ At that time I said to you, “You are too heavy a burden^(M) for me to carry alone.^{(N) 10} The Lord your God has increased^(O) your numbers^(P) so that today you are as numerous^(Q) as the stars in the sky.^{(R) 11} May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase^(S) you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!^{(T) 12} But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself?^{(U) 13} Choose some wise, understanding and respected men^(V) from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”

¹⁴ You answered me, “What you propose to do is good.”