20:1 After the disturbance had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging 1 them and saying farewell, 2 he left to go to Macedonia. 3
1:1 I wrote 4 the former 5 account, 6 Theophilus, 7 about all that Jesus began to do and teach 1:2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, 8 after he had given orders 9 by 10 the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 1:3 To the same apostles 11 also, after his suffering, 12 he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period 13 and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God. 1:4 While he was with them, 14 he declared, 15 “Do not leave Jerusalem, 16 but wait there 17 for what my 18 Father promised, 19 which you heard about from me. 20 1:5 For 21 John baptized with water, but you 22 will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
1:6 So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, 23 “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 1:7 He told them, “You are not permitted to know 24 the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts 25 of the earth.” 1:9 After 26 he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. 1:10 As 27 they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly 28 two men in white clothing stood near them 1:11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here 29 looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven 30 will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem 31 from the mountain 32 called the Mount of Olives 33 (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey 34 away). 1:13 When 35 they had entered Jerusalem, 36 they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter 37 and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James were there. 38 1:14 All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 39 1:15 In those days 40 Peter stood up among the believers 41 (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty people) and said, 1:16 “Brothers, 42 the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through 43 David concerning Judas – who became the guide for those who arrested Jesus – 1:17 for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.” 44 1:18 (Now this man Judas 45 acquired a field with the reward of his unjust deed, 46 and falling headfirst 47 he burst open in the middle and all his intestines 48 gushed out. 1:19 This 49 became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language 50 they called that field 51 Hakeldama, that is, “Field of Blood.”) 1:20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his house become deserted, 52 and let there be no one to live in it,’ 53 and ‘Let another take his position of responsibility.’ 54 1:21 Thus one of the men 55 who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with 56 us, 1:22 beginning from his baptism by John until the day he 57 was taken up from us – one of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.” 1:23 So they 58 proposed two candidates: 59 Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias. 1:24 Then they prayed, 60 “Lord, you know the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 1:25 to assume the task 61 of this service 62 and apostleship from which Judas turned aside 63 to go to his own place.” 64 1:26 Then 65 they cast lots for them, and the one chosen was Matthias; 66 so he was counted with the eleven apostles. 67