The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 1
{1:1} The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus
began both to do and to teach, {1:2} until the day in which he was
received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to
the apostles whom he had chosen. {1:3} To these he also showed himself
alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a
period of forty days, and speaking about God's Kingdom. {1:4} Being
assembled together with them, he charged them, "Don't depart from
Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard
from me. {1:5} For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be
baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
{1:6} Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord,
are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?"
{1:7} He said to them, "It isn't for you to know times or seasons
which the Father has set within his own authority. {1:8} But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be
witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
uttermost parts of the earth."
{1:9} When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was
taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. {1:10} While
they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men
stood by them in white clothing, {1:11} who also said, "You men of
Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was
received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as
you saw him going into the sky."
{1:12} Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called
Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. {1:13}
When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they
were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas,
Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and
Judas the son of James. {1:14} All these with one accord continued
steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary
the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
{1:15} In these days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples
(and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,
{1:16} "Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be
fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David
concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. {1:17} For he
was numbered with us, and received his portion in this ministry.
{1:18} Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his
wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his
intestines gushed out. {1:19} It became known to everyone who lived in
Jerusalem that in their language that field was called 'Akeldama,'
that is, 'The field of blood.' {1:20} For it is written in the book of
Psalms,
'Let his habitation be made desolate.
Let no one dwell therein;'[1]
and,
'Let another take his office.'[2]
{1:21} "Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time
that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, {1:22} beginning from
the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of
these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection."
{1:23} They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was
surnamed Justus, and Matthias. {1:24} They prayed, and said, "You,
Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you
have chosen {1:25} to take part in this ministry and apostleship from
which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place." {1:26} They
drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered
with the eleven apostles.
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Footnotes:
[1] {1:20} Psalm 69:25
[2] {1:20} Psalm 109:8
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