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

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

2 u ntil 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.

until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

3 A fter 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

to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit Promised

4 A s 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.

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;

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

for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

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

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 H e said, “It is not for you to know the special days or the special times which the Father has put in His own power.

And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

8 “ 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

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jesus Ascends to Heaven

9 W hen 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.

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

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

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

11 T hey 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

who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” The Upper Room Prayer Meeting

12 T he followers went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is close to Jerusalem.

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

13 W hen 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.

And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.

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

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Matthias Chosen

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

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,

16 “ 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.

“Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;

17 J udas was one of our group and had a part in our work.

for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”

18 T his 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.

(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.

19 A ll the people of Jerusalem knew about this. They called the place Field of Blood.

And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 F or 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.’

“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’

21 “ 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.

“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 H e 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.”

beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23 T hey brought two men in front of them. They were Joseph, also called Barsabbas Justus, and Matthias.

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

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

And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen

25 H e 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.”

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

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

And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.