Acts 1
Easy-to-Read Version
Luke Writes Another Book
1 Dear Theophilus,
The first book I wrote was about everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day he was carried up into heaven. Before he went, he talked to the apostles he had chosen. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he told them what they should do. 3 This was after his death, but he showed them that he was alive, proving it to them in many ways. The apostles saw Jesus many times during the 40 days after he was raised from death. He spoke to them about God’s kingdom. 4 One time when Jesus was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “Wait here until you receive what the Father promised to send. Remember, I told you about it before. 5 John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus Is Carried Up Into Heaven
6 The apostles were all together. They asked Jesus, “Lord, is this the time for you to give the people of Israel their kingdom again?”
7 Jesus said to them, “The Father is the only one who has the authority to decide dates and times. They are not for you to know. 8 But the Holy Spirit will come on you and give you power. You will be my witnesses. You will tell people everywhere about me—in Jerusalem, in the rest of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”
9 After Jesus said this, he was lifted up into the sky. While they were watching, he went into a cloud, and they could not see him. 10 They were staring into the sky where he had gone. Suddenly two men wearing white clothes were standing beside them. 11 They said, “Men from Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? You saw Jesus carried away from you into heaven. He will come back in the same way you saw him go.”
A New Apostle Is Chosen
12 Then the apostles went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. This mountain is about a half mile[a] from Jerusalem. 13 When they entered the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. These are the ones who were there: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (the son of Alphaeus), Simon, the Zealot, and Judas (the son of James).
14 The apostles were all together. They were constantly praying with the same purpose. Some women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers were there with the apostles.
15 After a few days there was a meeting of the believers. There were about 120 of them. Peter stood up and said, 16-17 “Brothers and sisters, in the Scriptures the Holy Spirit said through David that something must happen. He was talking about Judas, one of our own group. Judas served together with us. The Spirit said that Judas would lead men to arrest Jesus.”
18 (Judas was paid money for doing this. His money was used to buy him a field. But he fell on his head, his body broke open, and all his intestines poured out. 19 And all the people of Jerusalem learned about this. That is why they named that field Akeldama, which in their language means “field of blood.”)
20 Peter said, “In the book of Psalms, this is written about Judas:
‘People should not go near his land;
no one should live there.’ (A)
And it is also written:
‘Let another man have his work.’ (B)
21-22 “So now another man must join us and be a witness of Jesus’ resurrection. He must be one of those men who were part of our group during all the time the Lord Jesus was with us. He must have been with us from the time John was baptizing people until the day when Jesus was carried up from us into heaven.”
23 They put two men before the group. One was Joseph Barsabbas. He was also called Justus. The other man was Matthias. 24-25 They prayed, “Lord, you know the minds of all people. Show us which one of these two men you choose to do this work. Judas turned away from it and went where he belongs. Lord, show us which man should take his place as an apostle!” 26 Then they used lots to choose one of the two men. The lots showed that Matthias was the one the Lord wanted. So he became an apostle with the other eleven.
Footnotes
- Acts 1:12 half a mile Literally, “a Sabbath day’s journey.”
Acts 1
New Living Translation
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1 In my first book[a] I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with[b] water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
The Ascension of Jesus
6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
Matthias Replaces Judas
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile.[c] 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.
Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
15 During this time, when about 120 believers[d] were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”
18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)
20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’[e]
21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— 22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.
Hechos 1
La Biblia de las Américas
Introducción
1 El primer relato que escribí[a], Teófilo(A), trató de todo lo que Jesús comenzó a hacer y a enseñar(B), 2 hasta el día en que fue recibido arriba(C), después de que por el Espíritu Santo(D) había dado instrucciones a los apóstoles(E) que había escogido(F). 3 A estos[b] también, después de su padecimiento, se presentó vivo con[c] muchas pruebas convincentes, apareciéndoseles durante cuarenta días(G) y hablándoles de lo concerniente al reino de Dios(H). 4 Y reuniéndolos[d], les mandó que no salieran de Jerusalén(I), sino que esperaran la promesa del Padre(J): La cual, les dijo, oísteis de mí; 5 pues Juan bautizó con agua, pero vosotros seréis bautizados con[e] el Espíritu Santo(K) dentro de pocos días[f](L).
La ascensión
6 Entonces los que estaban reunidos, le preguntaban, diciendo: Señor, ¿restaurarás en este tiempo(M) el reino a Israel? 7 Y Él les dijo: No os corresponde a vosotros saber los tiempos ni las épocas que el Padre ha fijado con su propia autoridad(N); 8 pero recibiréis poder cuando el Espíritu Santo venga sobre vosotros(O); y me seréis testigos(P) en Jerusalén, en toda Judea y Samaria(Q), y hasta los confines de la tierra(R). 9 Después de haber dicho estas cosas, fue elevado mientras ellos miraban, y una nube le recibió(S) y le ocultó de sus ojos. 10 Y estando mirando fijamente al cielo mientras Él ascendía[g], aconteció[h] que se presentaron junto a ellos dos varones en vestiduras blancas(T), 11 que[i] les dijeron: Varones galileos(U), ¿por qué estáis mirando al cielo? Este mismo Jesús, que ha sido tomado de vosotros al cielo(V), vendrá de la misma manera(W), tal como le habéis visto ir al cielo.
En el aposento alto
12 Entonces regresaron a Jerusalén(X) desde el monte llamado de los Olivos[j](Y), que está cerca de Jerusalén, camino de un día de reposo. 13 Cuando hubieron entrado en la ciudad, subieron al aposento alto(Z) donde estaban hospedados, (AA)Pedro, Juan, Jacobo[k] y Andrés, Felipe y Tomás, Bartolomé y Mateo, Jacobo[l] hijo de Alfeo, Simón el Zelote y Judas(AB), hijo[m] de Jacobo[n]. 14 Todos estos estaban unánimes, entregados de continuo a la oración(AC) junto con las mujeres[o], y con María(AD) la madre de Jesús(AE), y con los hermanos de Él(AF).
La suerte de Judas y la elección de Matías
15 Por aquel tiempo[p] Pedro se puso de pie en medio de los hermanos(AG) (un grupo como de ciento veinte personas[q] estaba reunido allí), y dijo: 16 Hermanos[r], tenía que cumplirse la Escritura(AH) en que por boca de David el Espíritu Santo predijo acerca de Judas, el que se hizo guía de los que prendieron a Jesús(AI). 17 Porque era contado entre nosotros(AJ) y recibió parte en este ministerio(AK). 18 (Este, pues, con el precio de su infamia[s](AL) adquirió un terreno(AM), y cayendo de cabeza se reventó por el medio, y todas sus entrañas se derramaron. 19 Y esto llegó al conocimiento de todos los que habitaban en Jerusalén, de manera que aquel terreno se llamó en su propia lengua[t](AN) Acéldama, es decir, campo de sangre.) 20 Pues en el libro de los Salmos está escrito:
Que sea hecha desierta su morada,
y no haya quien habite en ella(AO);
y:
Que otro tome su cargo[u](AP).
21 Por tanto, es necesario que de los hombres que nos han acompañado todo el tiempo que el Señor Jesús vivió[v] entre nosotros(AQ), 22 comenzando desde el bautismo de Juan(AR), hasta el día en que de entre nosotros(AS) fue recibido arriba, uno sea constituido testigo con nosotros de su resurrección(AT). 23 Presentaron a dos: a José, llamado Barsabás (al que también llamaban Justo) y a Matías(AU). 24 Y habiendo orado(AV), dijeron: Tú, Señor, que conoces el corazón(AW) de todos, muéstranos a cuál de estos dos has escogido 25 para ocupar[w] este ministerio(AX) y apostolado(AY), del cual Judas se desvió para irse al lugar que le correspondía. 26 Echaron[x] suertes(AZ) y la suerte cayó sobre Matías(BA), y fue contado[y] con los once apóstoles(BB).
Footnotes
- Hechos 1:1 Lit., hice
- Hechos 1:3 Lit., quienes
- Hechos 1:3 O, mediante
- Hechos 1:4 O, comiendo con ellos, o, posiblemente, hospedándose con ellos
- Hechos 1:5 O, en
- Hechos 1:5 Lit., no mucho después de estos días
- Hechos 1:10 Lit., se iba
- Hechos 1:10 Lit., y he aquí
- Hechos 1:11 Lit., los cuales también
- Hechos 1:12 O, Huerto de los Olivos, u, Olivar
- Hechos 1:13 O, Santiago
- Hechos 1:13 O, Santiago
- Hechos 1:13 O, posiblemente, hermano
- Hechos 1:13 O, Santiago
- Hechos 1:14 O, ciertas mujeres
- Hechos 1:15 Lit., Y en estos días
- Hechos 1:15 Lit., nombres
- Hechos 1:16 Lit., Varones hermanos
- Hechos 1:18 Lit., iniquidad
- Hechos 1:19 O, dialecto
- Hechos 1:20 Lit., posición como supervisor
- Hechos 1:21 Lit., entraba y salía
- Hechos 1:25 Lit., tomar el lugar de
- Hechos 1:26 Lit., Y les dieron
- Hechos 1:26 Lit., escogido
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
