Acts 1

 

1 The former account I have composed, O Theophilus, of all that (the Lord) Jesus began both to do and teach,

 

2 Until the day in which He was received up (into heaven), after He, through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen:

 

3 To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion (and resurrection) by many infallible proofs, being seen by them for forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

 

4 And, being assembled together with them, (He breathed on them and) commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of (the Holy Ghost from) the Father, which, He said, you have heard of Me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from now.

6 They therefore, when they came together, asked Him, saying, Lord, will you at this time (when the Holy Ghost comes) restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has kept in His own power.

8 But you shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost has come on you: and you shall be witnesses for Me (of the resurrection) both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.

 

9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld (Him), He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked intently toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Who also said, You men of Galilee, why do you stand, gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so return in like manner (in a cloud) as you have seen Him go into heaven.

 

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey (about three-quarters of a mile).

13 And when they came together, they went up into an upper room, where both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James stayed.

14 These all continued with the same mind in prayer with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

15 And in those days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples, and said, {the number of them together was about a hundred and twenty,}

16 Men and brethren, it was necessary for this scripture to be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spoke by the mouth of David beforehand concerning Judas, who was the guide to them that took Jesus.

17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward (money he received) for his iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out.

19 And it was known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is interpreted, The field of blood.

20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be (made) desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his position as bishop let another take.

 

21 Therefore, (it is necessary that) from these men who have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us,

22 Beginning from the baptism of John to that same day that he was taken up from us, one must be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24 And they prayed, and said, You, Lord, which know the hearts of all men, show which of these two you have chosen,

25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, so that he might go to his own place.

26 And they cast forth their lots; and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.