1 I n the former account, O Theophilus, I made dealing with all the things which Jesus began to do and to teach

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 U ntil the day when He ascended, after He through the Holy Spirit had instructed and commanded the apostles (special messengers) whom He had chosen.

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 T o them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross) by many convincing demonstrations, appearing to them during forty days and talking about the things of the kingdom of God.

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 A nd while being in their company and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, Of which you have heard Me speak.

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 F or John baptized with water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with ( placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit.

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 S o when they were assembled, they asked Him, Lord, is this the time when You will reestablish the kingdom and restore it to Israel?

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 H e said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 B ut you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 A nd when He had said this, even as they were looking, He was caught up, and a cloud received and carried Him away out of their sight.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 A nd while they were gazing intently into heaven as He went, behold, two men in white robes suddenly stood beside them,

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

11 W ho said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This same Jesus, Who was caught away and lifted up from among you into heaven, will return in the same way in which you saw Him go into heaven.

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

12 T hen went back to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey (three-quarters of a mile) away.

Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

13 A nd when they had entered, they mounted to the upper room where they were '> indefinitely] staying—Peter and John and James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas of James.

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode 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.

14 A ll of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

15 N ow on one of those days Peter arose among the brethren, the whole number of whom gathered together was about a hundred and twenty.

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

16 B rethren, he said, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit foretold by the lips of David, about Judas who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.

Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

17 F or he was counted among us and received his portion in this ministry.

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

18 N ow this man obtained a piece of land with the reward for his treachery and wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his intestines poured forth.

Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

19 A nd all the residents of Jerusalem became acquainted with the facts, so that they called the piece of land in their own dialect—Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.

And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

20 F or in the book of Psalms it is written, Let his place of residence become deserted and gloomy, and let there be no one to live in it; and, Let another take his position or overseership.

For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

21 S o one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

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

22 F rom the baptism of John at the outset until the day when He was taken up from among us—one of these men must join with us and become a witness to testify to His resurrection.

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

23 A nd they accordingly proposed (nominated) two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

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

24 A nd they prayed and said, You, Lord, Who know all hearts ( their thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, purposes, and endeavors), indicate to us which one of these two You have chosen

And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25 T o take the place in this ministry and receive the position of an apostle, from which Judas fell away and went astray to go to his own place.

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

26 A nd they drew lots, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to and counted with the eleven apostles (special messengers).

And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.