Acts

Prologue

1In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,

2until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.

3After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

4And while they were gathered together,He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.

5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The Ascension

6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.

8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

10They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

11“Men of Galilee,” 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 in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Matthias Replaces Judas

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

13When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

14With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said,

16“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus.

17He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”

18(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.

19This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20“For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘May his place be deserted;let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, ‘May another take his position.’

21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.

24And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen

25to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”

26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.

1The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach,

2Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up.

3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God.

4And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth.

5For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence.

6They therefore who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7But he said to them: It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power:

8But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.

9And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments.

11Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbath day’s journey.

13And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James.

14All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

15In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren, said: (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty:)

16Men, brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended Jesus:

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

18And he indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged, burst asunder in the midst: and all his bowels gushed out.

19And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so that the same field was called in their tongue, Haceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

20For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let another take.

21Wherefore of these men who have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us,

22Beginning from the baptism of John, until the day wherein he was taken up from us, one of these must be made a witness with us of his resurrection.

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

24And praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place.

26And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.