1 T he former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both 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 in which he was received up, after that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles 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 whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning 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, being assembled together with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye heard from me:

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 indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.

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

6 T hey therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?

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

7 A nd he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.

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 ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part 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 these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him 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 looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

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

11 w ho also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going 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 returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey off.

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

13 A nd when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were abiding; both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son 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 T hese all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

These all agreed as they prayed together. The women and Mary the mother of Jesus and His brothers were there.

15 A nd in these days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said (and there was a multitude of persons gathered together, 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, it was needful that the Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spake before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took 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 numbered among us, and received his portion in this ministry.

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

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

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 it became known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch that in their language that field was called Akeldama, that is, The field of blood.)

All the people of Jerusalem knew about this. They called the place Field of Blood.

20 F or it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be made desolate, And let no man dwell therein: and, His office let another take.

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 O f the men therefore that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went 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 b eginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of 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 put forward two, 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, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast 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 apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might 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 gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

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