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I made the first account about everything, O Theophilus, which Jesus began both to do and teach until which day He was taken-up [after] having given-commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He chose— to whom He indeed presented Himself alive after His suffering by many convincing-proofs, appearing[a] to them during forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Jesus Ascends After Directing His Apostles To Be His Witnesses By The Spirit’s Power

And being assembled-with[b] them, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait-for the promise of the Father “which you heard from Me. Because John baptized with[c] water, but you will be baptized with[d] the Holy Spirit after these not many days!” So indeed the ones having come together were asking Him, saying “Lord, are You restoring[e] the kingdom to Israel at this time?”. And He said to them, “It is not yours to know the times or seasons which the Father appointed[f] by His own authority. But you will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you. And you will be My witnesses— both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and as far as the last place of the earth”. And having said these things, while they were looking He was lifted-up. And a cloud received[g] Him from their eyes. 10 And as they were looking-intently into heaven, while He was going— and behold, two men in white clothing were standing near them, 11 who also said, “Galilean men, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus having been taken-up from you into heaven will come in this manner— the way you saw Him going into heaven”.

The Apostles Return to Jerusalem And Await The Holy Spirit In Prayer

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain being called ‘of Olives’, which is near Jerusalem (having a Sabbath’s day journey[h]). 13 And when they went in the city, they went up to the upper-room where they were staying— both Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 These all were devoting-themselves with-one-accord to prayer, along with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

Peter Suggests That According To Scripture, Judas Should Be Replaced

15 And during these days, Peter, having stood up in the midst of the brothers (and the crowd of names at the same place was about one-hundred twenty), said, 16 “Men, brothers, the Scripture had-to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke-beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Judas, the one having become a guide for the ones having arrested Jesus, 17 because[i] he was numbered among us, and received his share of this ministry”. (18 Now indeed this one acquired a field with the wages of unrighteousness[j]. And having become prostrate[k], he burst-open in the middle and all his inward-parts spilled-out. 19 And it became known to all the ones dwelling-in Jerusalem, so that that field was called ‘Hakeldama’ in their own language, that is, ‘Field of Blood’). 20 “For it has been written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his residence become desolate[l], and let there not be the one dwelling in it’ [Ps 69:25], and ‘let another take his office’ [Ps 109:8]. 21 Therefore, from the men having accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day that He was taken-up from us— one of these must become a witness of His resurrection with us”.

Matthias Is Chosen

23 And they put-forward two: Joseph (the one being called Barsabbas, who was called Justus), and Matthias. 24 And having prayed, they said, “You, Lord, heart-knower of all— appoint[m] the one whom You chose from these two 25 to take the place of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned-aside to go to his own place”. 26 And they gave lots for them. And the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was added with the eleven apostles.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 1:3 Or, being-seen by.
  2. Acts 1:4 Or, And coming-together; or, And while eating-with them; or, And while staying-with them.
  3. Acts 1:5 Or, in.
  4. Acts 1:5 Or, in.
  5. Acts 1:6 Compare Mt 21:43.
  6. Acts 1:7 Or, fixed, set.
  7. Acts 1:9 Or, took Him up.
  8. Acts 1:12 The Rabbi’s taught that 2000 cubits or 5 stades (about 1000 yards or 914 meters) was the maximum journey permitted on a Sabbath.
  9. Acts 1:17 Judas was counted as one of the twelve because the prophecies concerning him (v 20) had to be fulfilled.
  10. Acts 1:18 That is, unrighteous wages; or, wages received for his unrighteousness.
  11. Acts 1:18 Or, prone. That is, flat on his face.
  12. Acts 1:20 Or, deserted.
  13. Acts 1:24 Or, show-forth, reveal.

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

In my former book,(A) Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach(B) until the day he was taken up to heaven,(C) after giving instructions(D) through the Holy Spirit to the apostles(E) he had chosen.(F) After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them(G) over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.(H) On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait(I) for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.(J) For John baptized with[a] water,(K) but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”(L)

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore(M) the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.(N) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;(O) and you will be my witnesses(P) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,(Q) and to the ends of the earth.”(R)

After he said this, he was taken up(S) before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white(T) stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,”(U) they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back(V) in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem(W) from the hill called the Mount of Olives,(X) a Sabbath day’s walk[c] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room(Y) where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.(Z) 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer,(AA) along with the women(AB) and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.(AC)

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters,[d](AD) the Scripture had to be fulfilled(AE) in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas,(AF) who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number(AG) and shared in our ministry.”(AH)

18 (With the payment(AI) he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field;(AJ) there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language(AK) Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“‘May his place be deserted;
    let there be no one to dwell in it,’[e](AL)

and,

“‘May another take his place of leadership.’[f](AM)

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism(AN) to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness(AO) with us of his resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed,(AP) “Lord, you know everyone’s heart.(AQ) Show us(AR) which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 1:5 Or in
  2. Acts 1:5 Or in
  3. Acts 1:12 That is, about 5/8 mile or about 1 kilometer
  4. Acts 1:16 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 6:3; 11:29; 12:17; 16:40; 18:18, 27; 21:7, 17; 28:14, 15.
  5. Acts 1:20 Psalm 69:25
  6. Acts 1:20 Psalm 109:8