Introduction

The first account I [a]composed, (A)Theophilus, about all that Jesus (B)began to do and teach, until the day when He (C)was taken up to heaven, after He (D)had given orders [b]by the Holy Spirit to (E)the apostles whom He had (F)chosen. To [c]these (G)He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of (H)things regarding the kingdom of God. [d]Gathering them together, He commanded them (I)not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for [e](J)what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for (K)John baptized [f]with water, but you will be baptized [g]with the Holy Spirit [h](L)not many days from now.”

So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, (M)is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which (N)the Father has set by His own authority; but you will receive power (O)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be (P)My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and (Q)Samaria, and as far as (R)the remotest part of the earth.”

The Ascension

And after He had said these things, (S)He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, (T)two men in white clothing stood beside them, 11 and they said, “(U)Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who (V)has been taken up from you into heaven, will (W)come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

The Upper Room

12 Then they (X)returned to Jerusalem from the [i](Y)mountain called [j]Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a [k]Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to (Z)the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, (AA)Peter, John, [l]James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, [m]James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and (AB)Judas the [n]son of [o]James. 14 All these (AC)were continually devoting themselves with one [p]mind to prayer, along with (AD)the women, and Mary the (AE)mother of Jesus, and with His (AF)brothers.

15 [q]At this time Peter stood up among (AG)the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 [r]people was there together), and said, 16 [s]Brothers, (AH)the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, (AI)who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was (AJ)counted among us and received his share in (AK)this ministry.” 18 (Now this man (AL)acquired a field with (AM)the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result that field was called Hakeldama in (AN)their own language, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms:

(AO)May his residence be made desolate,
And may there be none living in it’;

and,

(AP)May another take his [t]office.’

21 Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that (AQ)the Lord Jesus went in and out [u]among us— 22 (AR)beginning [v]with the baptism of John until the day that He (AS)was taken up from us—one of these must become a (AT)witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and (AU)Matthias. 24 And they (AV)prayed and said, “You, Lord, who (AW)know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to [w]occupy (AX)this ministry and (AY)apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they [x](AZ)drew lots for them, and the lot fell [y]to (BA)Matthias; and he was added to (BB)the eleven apostles.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 1:1 Lit made
  2. Acts 1:2 Or through
  3. Acts 1:3 Lit whom
  4. Acts 1:4 Or eating with; or lodging with
  5. Acts 1:4 Lit the promise of the Father
  6. Acts 1:5 Or in
  7. Acts 1:5 Or in
  8. Acts 1:5 Lit not long after these many days
  9. Acts 1:12 Or hill
  10. Acts 1:12 Or Olive Grove
  11. Acts 1:12 2,000 cubits, or about 0.6 miles or 1 km
  12. Acts 1:13 Or Jacob
  13. Acts 1:13 Or Jacob
  14. Acts 1:13 Or brother
  15. Acts 1:13 Or Jacob
  16. Acts 1:14 Or purpose
  17. Acts 1:15 Lit In these days
  18. Acts 1:15 Lit names
  19. Acts 1:16 Lit Men, brothers
  20. Acts 1:20 Lit position of oversight
  21. Acts 1:21 Lit to us
  22. Acts 1:22 Lit from
  23. Acts 1:25 Lit take the place of
  24. Acts 1:26 Lit gave
  25. Acts 1:26 Or upon

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach(A) until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.(B) After his suffering[a] he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.(C) While staying[b] with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me;(D) for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with[c] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”(E)

The Ascension of Jesus

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”(F) He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.(G) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”(H) When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.(I) 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.(J) 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”(K)

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of[d] James.(L) 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.(M)

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, 16 “Brothers and sisters,[e] the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus,(N) 17 for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”(O) 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out.(P) 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms,

‘Let his house become desolate,
    and let there be no one to live in it’;

and

‘Let another take his position of overseer.’(Q)

21 “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.”(R) 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen(S) 25 to take the place[f] in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Footnotes

  1. 1.3 Or death
  2. 1.4 Or eating
  3. 1.5 Or by
  4. 1.13 Or the brother of
  5. 1.16 Gk Men, brothers
  6. 1.25 Other ancient authorities read the share