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 everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, up to the day when he was taken up to heaven[a] after giving orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After he had suffered, he had shown himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during a period of 40 days and telling them about the kingdom of God.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

While he was meeting with them, he ordered them, “Don’t leave Jerusalem. Instead, wait for what the Father has promised, about which you heard me speak, because John baptized with[b] water, but you will be baptized with[c] the Holy Spirit a few days from now.”

Now those who had gathered together began to ask Jesus,[d] “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It isn’t for you to know what times or periods the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you’ll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you’ll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus Goes Up to Heaven

After saying this, Jesus[e] was taken up while those who had gathered together[f] were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, two men in white robes stood right beside them. 11 They asked, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go up into heaven.”

A New Apostle Takes the Place of Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives,[g] which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.[h] 13 When they came into the city, these men[i] went to the upstairs room where they had been staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son[j] of James. 14 With one mind, all of them kept devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women (including Mary the mother of Jesus) and his brothers.

15 At that time,[k] Peter got up among the brothers (there were about 120 people present) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the voice of David about Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus, 17 because he was one of our number and was appointed[l] to share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man bought a field with the money he got for his crime. Falling on his face, he burst open in the middle, and all his intestines gushed out. 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that this field is called in their language Hakeldama, that is, “The Field of Blood”.) 20 “For in the Book of Psalms it is written, ‘Let his estate be desolate, and let no one live on it,’[m] and, ‘Let someone else take over his office,’[n] 21 who was one of the men associated with us all the time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, 22 beginning when he was baptized by John until the day he was taken up from us. Therefore, someone like this[o] must become a witness with us to his resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men—Joseph called Barsabbas, who also was called Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know the hearts of all people. Show us which one of these two men you have chosen 25 to serve in this office of apostle,[p] from which Judas left to go to his own place.”

26 So they drew lots for them, and when the lot fell on Matthias, he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 1:2 The Gk. lacks to heaven
  2. Acts 1:5 Or in
  3. Acts 1:5 Or in
  4. Acts 1:6 Lit. him
  5. Acts 1:9 Lit. he
  6. Acts 1:9 Lit. while they
  7. Acts 1:12 Lit. from the mountain called Olives
  8. Acts 1:12 I.e. about a half mile away
  9. Acts 1:13 The Gk. lacks men
  10. Acts 1:13 Or brother
  11. Acts 1:15 Lit. In those days
  12. Acts 1:17 Lit. was chosen by lot; i.e. by an ostensibly random lottery, the outcome of which was entrusted to God’s providence; cf. v. 26
  13. Acts 1:20 Cf. Ps 69:25
  14. Acts 1:20 Cf. Ps 109:8
  15. Acts 1:22 The Gk. lacks like this
  16. Acts 1:25 Lit. to receive the place of this service and apostleship