Acts 1:4-26

41Gathering them together, He commanded them 2not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for 34what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5for 5John baptized 6with water, but you will be baptized 7with the Holy Spirit 89not many days from now.”

6So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, 10is 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 11the Father has set by His own authority; 8but you will receive power 12when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be 13My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and 14Samaria, and as far as 15the remotest part of the earth.” 9And after He had said these things, 16He 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, 17two men in white clothing stood beside them, 11and they said, “18Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who 19has been taken up from you into heaven, will 20come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

12Then they 21returned to Jerusalem from the 2223mountain called 24Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a 25Sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, they went up to 26the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, 27Peter, John, 28James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, 29James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and 30Judas the 31son of 32James. 14All these 33were continually devoting themselves with one 34mind to prayer, along with 35the women, and Mary the 36mother of Jesus, and with His 37brothers.

1538At this time Peter stood up among 39the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 40people was there together), and said, 16“41Brothers, 42the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, 43who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17For he was 44counted among us and received his share in 45this ministry.” 18(Now this man 46acquired a field with 47the 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 48their own language, that is, Field of Blood.) 20“For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘49May his residence be made desolate, And may there be none living in it’; and, ‘50May another take his 51office.’ 21Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that 52the Lord Jesus went in and out 53among us-- 2254beginning 55with the baptism of John until the day that He 56was taken up from us--one of these must become a 57witness with us of His resurrection.” 23So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and 58Matthias. 24And they 59prayed and said, “You, Lord, who 60know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen 25to 61occupy 62this ministry and 63apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26And they 6465drew lots for them, and the lot fell 66to 67Matthias; and he was added to 68the eleven apostles.