Acts 1

Prologue

1I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach ^a2until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. ^b3After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. ^c

The Holy Spirit Promised

⁴While He was together ^dwith them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. ^e“This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; ⁵for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ^f

⁶So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

⁷He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. ^g8But 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 ^hof the earth.” ⁱ

The Ascension

⁹After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. ¹⁰While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. ^j11They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.” ^k

United in Prayer

¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³When they arrived, they went to the room ^lupstairs 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. ^m

¹⁴All these were continually united ⁿin prayer, ^oalong with the women, including Mary ^pthe mother of Jesus, and His brothers. ^q

Matthias Chosen

¹⁵During these days Peter stood up among the brothers ^r—the number of people who were together was about 120—and said: ¹⁶“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke in advance about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. ^s17For he was one of our number and was allotted a share in this ministry.” ^t18Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst and burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out. ^u19This 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; ^vand

Let someone else take his position. ^wx

²¹“Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— ²²beginning 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.” ^y

²³So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. ^z24Then they prayed, ^a“You, Lord, know the hearts of all; show which of these two You have chosen ^b25to take the place ^cin this apostolic service ^dthat Judas left to go to his own place.” ²⁶Then they cast lots ^efor them, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was numbered with the 11 apostles.