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 account, indeed, I made concerning all things, O Theophilus, that Jesus began both to do and to 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.

till the day in which, having given command, through the Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom he did choose out, he was taken up,

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 did present himself alive after his suffering, in many certain proofs, through forty days being seen by them, and speaking the things concerning the reign 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, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, `Ye did hear 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.

because John, indeed, baptized with water, and ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit -- after not many days.'

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?

They, therefore, indeed, having come together, were questioning him, saying, `Lord, dost thou at this time restore the reign 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 yours to know times or seasons that the Father did appoint in His own authority;

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 at the coming of the Holy Spirit upon you, and ye shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the end 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 these things having said -- they beholding -- he was taken up, and a cloud did receive him up from 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 as they were looking stedfastly to the heaven in his going on, then, lo, 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.

who also said, `Men, Galileans, why do ye stand gazing into the heaven? this Jesus who was received up from you into the heaven, shall so come in what manner ye saw him going on to the 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 did they return to Jerusalem from the mount that is called of Olives, that is near Jerusalem, a sabbath'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 came in, they went up to the upper room, where were abiding both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James, of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zelotes, and Judas, 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 were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with 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 these days, Peter having risen up in the midst of the disciples, said, (the multitude also of the names at the same place was, as it were, 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, brethren, it behoved this Writing that it be fulfilled that beforehand the Holy Spirit spake through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who became guide to those who took Jesus,

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

because he was numbered among us, and did receive the share in this ministration,

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 one, indeed, then, purchased a field out of the reward of unrighteousness, and falling headlong, burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed forth,

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 became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem, insomuch that that place is called, in their proper dialect, Aceldama, that is, 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 hath been written in the book of Psalms: Let his lodging-place become desolate, and let no one be dwelling in it, and his oversight 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,

`It behoveth, therefore, of the men who did go with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and went 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 the day in which he was received up from us, one of these to become with us a witness of his rising again.'

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

And they set 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 having prayed, they said, `Thou, Lord, who art knowing the heart of all, shew which one thou didst choose of these two

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.

to receive the share of this ministration and apostleship, from which Judas, by transgression, did fall, to go on to his proper 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 their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.