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

The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to 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 received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit 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 these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom.

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.

Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you 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 indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in 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, “Lord, are you now restoring 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.

He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within 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 will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

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.

When he had said these things, as they were looking, 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.

While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,

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, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”

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 mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

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.

When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, 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.

All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

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

In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred 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.

“Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.

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

For he was numbered with us, and received his portion 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 obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out.

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

It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The 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 habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell therein;’ 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.

“Of the men therefore 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 the day that he was received up from us, of these one 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.

They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called 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.

They prayed, and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one 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 fell away, 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.

They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.