Prologue

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach(A) until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.(B) After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.(C)

The Holy Spirit Promised

While he was[a] with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise.(D) “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”(E)

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.(F) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”(G)

The Ascension

After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.(H) 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”(I)

United in Prayer

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room(J) upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.(K) 14 They all were continually united(L) in prayer,[b] along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.(M)

Matthias Chosen

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters[c]—the number of people who were together was about a hundred twenty—and said, 16 “Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.(N) 17 For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”(O) 18 Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out.(P) 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, “Field of Blood”). 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

Let his dwelling become desolate;
let no one live in it; [d] and
Let someone else take his position.[e](Q)

21 “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.”(R)

23 So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.(S) 24 Then they prayed,(T) “You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen(U) 25 to take the place[f] in this apostolic ministry(V) that Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots(W) for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Footnotes

  1. 1:4 Or he was eating, or he was lodging
  2. 1:14 Other mss add and petition
  3. 1:15 Other mss read disciples
  4. 1:20 Ps 69:25
  5. 1:20 Ps 109:8
  6. 1:25 Other mss read to share

Introduction

In my first book, Theophilus, I wrote about what Yeshua began to do and teach. This included everything from the beginning of his life until the day he was taken to heaven. Before he was taken to heaven, he gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles, whom he had chosen.

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

After his death Yeshua showed the apostles a lot of convincing evidence that he was alive. For 40 days he appeared to them and talked with them about the kingdom of God.

Once, while he was meeting with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for what the Father had promised. Yeshua said to them, “I’ve told you what the Father promises: John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

So when the apostles came together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you’re going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Yeshua told them, “You don’t need to know about times or periods that the Father has determined by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After he had said this, he was taken to heaven. A cloud hid him so that they could no longer see him.

10 They were staring into the sky as he departed. Suddenly, two men in white clothes stood near them. 11 They asked, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking at the sky? Yeshua, who was taken from you to heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven.”

A New Apostle Takes Judas’ Place

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives. It is near Jerusalem, about half a mile away.

13 When they came into the city, Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon the Zealot, and Judas (son of James) went to the second-story room where they were staying.

14 The apostles had a single purpose as they devoted themselves to prayer. They were joined by some women, including Mary (the mother of Yeshua), and they were joined by his brothers.

15 At a time when about 120 disciples had gathered together, Peter got up and spoke to them.

He said, 16 “Brothers, what the Holy Spirit predicted through David in Scripture about Judas had to come true. Judas led the men to arrest Yeshua. 17 He had been one of us and had been given an active role in this ministry. 18 With the money he received from the wrong he had done, he bought a piece of land where he fell headfirst to his death. His body split open, and all his internal organs came out. 19 Everyone living in Jerusalem knows about this. They even call that piece of land Akeldama, which means ‘Field of Blood’ in their dialect. 20 You’ve read in Psalms, ‘Let his home be deserted, and let no one live there,’ and ‘Let someone else take his position.’”

“Therefore, someone must be added to our number to serve with us as a witness that Yeshua came back to life. 21 He must be one of the men who accompanied Yeshua with us the entire time that the Lord Yeshua was among us. 22 This person must have been with us from the time that John was baptizing people to the day that Yeshua was taken from us.”[a]

23 The disciples determined that two men were qualified. These men were Joseph (who was called Barsabbas and was also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s thoughts. Show us which of these two you have chosen. 25 Show us who is to take the place of Judas as an apostle, since Judas abandoned his position to go to the place where he belongs.”

26 They drew names to choose an apostle. Matthias was chosen and joined the eleven apostles.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 1:22 Verses 21–22 have been rearranged to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.