1 T he first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,

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

2 u ntil the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

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

3 T o these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

To 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.

4 G athering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;

And 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.

5 f or John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

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

6 S o when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

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

7 H e said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

He 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.

8 b ut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” The Ascension

But 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.

9 A nd after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

And 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.

10 A nd as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.

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

11 T hey also said, “ Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” The Upper Room

Who 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.

12 T hen they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

Then went back to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey (three-quarters of a mile) away.

13 W hen they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, 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.

And 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.

14 T hese all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

All 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.

15 A t this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said,

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

16 “ Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

Brethren, 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.

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

For he was counted among us and received his portion in this ministry.

18 ( Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out.

Now 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.

19 A nd it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

And 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.

20 “ For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘ Let his homestead be made desolate, And let no one dwell in it ’; and, ‘ Let another man take his office.’

For 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.

21 T herefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—

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

22 b eginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

From 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.

23 S o they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.

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

24 A nd they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen

And 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

25 t o occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

To 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.

26 A nd they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

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