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

Dear Theophilus, in my first writings I wrote about all the things Jesus did and taught from the beginning

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 He went to heaven. He spoke to the missionaries through the Holy Spirit. He told those whom He had chosen what they should do.

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.

After He had suffered much and then died, He showed Himself alive in many sure ways for forty days. He told them many things about the holy nation of God. Jesus Speaks Before He Goes to Be with the Father

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.

As they were gathered together with Him, He told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem. Wait for what the Father has promised. You heard Me speak of this.

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 the Baptist baptized with water but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

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?

Those who were with Him asked, “Lord, is this the time for You to give the nation back to the Jews?”

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.

He said, “It is not for you to know the special days or the special times which the Father has 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 you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes into your life. You will tell about Me in the city of Jerusalem and over all the countries of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Jesus Goes to Be with the Father

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.

When Jesus had said this and while they were still looking at Him, He was taken up. A cloud carried Him away so they could not see Him.

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

They were still looking up to heaven, watching Him go. All at once two men dressed in white stood beside them.

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.

They said, “You men of the country of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus Who was taken from you into heaven will return in the same way you saw Him go up into heaven.” Matthias Is Chosen to Take the Place of Judas

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.

The followers went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is close to Jerusalem.

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.

When they came into the city, they went up to a room on the second floor where they stayed. The followers were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Canaanite, 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 agreed as they prayed together. The women and Mary the mother of Jesus and His brothers were there.

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.

On one of those days Peter got up in front of the followers. (There were about 120 people there.) He said,

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 brothers, it happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen which the Holy Spirit spoke through David. They told about Judas who would hand Jesus over to those who wanted to take Him.

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

Judas was one of our group and had a part in our work.

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.

This man bought a field with the money he received for his sin. And falling down head first, his body broke open and his insides ran 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.

All the people of Jerusalem knew about this. They called the place 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 place of living be empty and let no one live there,’ and, ‘Let another person take over his work.’

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,

“The man to take the place of Judas should be one of these men who walked along with us when the Lord Jesus was with 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.

He must have been with Jesus from the day He was baptized by John to the day He was taken up from us. So one of these should be added to our group who will tell others that he saw Jesus raised from the dead.”

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

They brought two men in front of them. They were Joseph, also called Barsabbas 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

Then the followers prayed, saying, “Lord, You know the hearts of all men. Show us which of these two men You have 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.

He is to take the place of Judas in this work and be a missionary. Judas lost his place and went where he belonged because of sin.”

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).

Then they drew names and the name of Matthias was chosen. He became one with the eleven missionaries.