1 T he former account, indeed, I made concerning all things, O Theophilus, 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 t ill the day in which, having given command, through the Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom he did choose out, he was taken up,

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 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.

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 commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, `Ye did hear of 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 b ecause John, indeed, baptized with water, and ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit -- after not many days.'

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

6 T hey, therefore, indeed, having come together, were questioning him, saying, `Lord, dost thou at this time restore the reign 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 yours to know times or seasons that the Father did appoint in 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 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.'

“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 these things having said -- they beholding -- he was taken up, and a cloud did receive him up from 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 as they were looking stedfastly to the heaven in his going on, then, lo, 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, `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.'

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 did they return to Jerusalem from the mount that is called of Olives, that is near Jerusalem, a sabbath's journey;

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

13 a nd 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;

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 were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with 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 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,)

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

16 ` 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,

“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 b ecause he was numbered among us, and did receive the share in this ministration,

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

18 t his 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,

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 those dwelling in Jerusalem, insomuch that that place is called, in their proper dialect, Aceldama, that is, field of blood,

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

20 f or 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.

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 ` 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,

“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 in which he was received up from us, one of these to become with us a witness of his rising again.'

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

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 receive the share of this ministration and apostleship, from which Judas, by transgression, did fall, to go on to his proper 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 their lots, 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.