Acts 1
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Prologue
1 I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach(A) 2 until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.(B) 3 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
4 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; 5 for John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit in a few days.’(E)
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time? ’
7 He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority.(F) 8 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
9 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.
Acts 1
The Message
To the Ends of the World
1 1-5 Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.”
6 When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”
7-8 He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”
9-11 These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.”
Returning to Jerusalem
12-13 So they left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem. It was a little over half a mile. They went to the upper room they had been using as a meeting place:
Peter,
John,
James,
Andrew,
Philip,
Thomas,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Simon the Zealot,
Judas, son of James.
14 They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers.
Replacing Judas
15-17 During this time, Peter stood up in the company—there were about 120 of them in the room at the time—and said, “Friends, long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David regarding Judas, who became the guide to those who arrested Jesus. That Scripture had to be fulfilled, and now has been. Judas was one of us and had his assigned place in this ministry.
18-20 “As you know, he took the evil bribe money and bought a small farm. There he came to a bad end, rupturing his belly and spilling his guts. Everybody in Jerusalem knows this by now; they call the place Murder Meadow. It’s exactly what we find written in the Psalms:
Let his farm become haunted
So no one can ever live there.
“And also what was written later:
Let someone else take over his post.
21-22 “Judas must now be replaced. The replacement must come from the company of men who stayed together with us from the time Jesus was baptized by John up to the day of his ascension, designated along with us as a witness to his resurrection.”
23-26 They nominated two: Joseph Barsabbas, nicknamed Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, O God, know every one of us inside and out. Make plain which of these two men you choose to take the place in this ministry and leadership that Judas threw away in order to go his own way.” They then drew straws. Matthias won and was counted in with the eleven apostles.
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson