Acts 1

Introduction

1The first account I 1composed, 2Theophilus, about all that Jesus 3began to do and teach, 2until the day when He 4was taken up to heaven, after He 5had given orders 6by the Holy Spirit to 7the apostles whom He had 8chosen. 3To 9these 10He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of 11things regarding the kingdom of God. 412Gathering them together, He commanded them 13not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for 1415what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5for 16John baptized 17with water, but you will be baptized 18with the Holy Spirit 1920not many days from now.”

6So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, 21is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which 22the Father has set by His own authority; 8but you will receive power 23when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be 24My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and 25Samaria, and as far as 26the remotest part of the earth.”

The Ascension

9And after He had said these things, 27He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. 10And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, 28two men in white clothing stood beside them, 11and they said, “29Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who 30has been taken up from you into heaven, will 31come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

The Upper Room

12Then they 32returned to Jerusalem from the 3334mountain called 35Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a 36Sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, they went up to 37the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, 38Peter, John, 39James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, 40James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and 41Judas the 42son of 43James. 14All these 44were continually devoting themselves with one 45mind to prayer, along with 46the women, and Mary the 47mother of Jesus, and with His 48brothers.

1549At this time Peter stood up among 50the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 51people was there together), and said, 16“52Brothers, 53the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, 54who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17For he was 55counted among us and received his share in 56this ministry.” 18(Now this man 57acquired a field with 58the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result that field was called Hakeldama in 59their own language, that is, Field of Blood.) 20“For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘60May his residence be made desolate, And may there be none living in it’; and, ‘61May another take his 62office.’ 21Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that 63the Lord Jesus went in and out 64among us-- 2265beginning 66with the baptism of John until the day that He 67was taken up from us--one of these must become a 68witness with us of His resurrection.” 23So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and 69Matthias. 24And they 70prayed and said, “You, Lord, who 71know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen 25to 72occupy 73this ministry and 74apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26And they 7576drew lots for them, and the lot fell 77to 78Matthias; and he was added to 79the eleven apostles.