The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1The first account, O Theophilus, I [†]composed, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had [†]by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over forty days and speaking about the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4And [†]gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5for [†]John baptized with water, but you will be baptized [†]with the Holy Spirit [†]not many days from now.”

6So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7But He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority; 8but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to [†]THE END OF THE EARTH.”

The Ascension

9And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10And as they were gazing intently into [†]the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the [†]mount called [†]Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a [†]Sabbath day’s journey away. 13And when they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and [†]James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the [†]son of James. 14These all with one accord were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

15And in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (a crowd of about 120 [†]persons was there together), and said, 16“Men, brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” 18(Now this man acquired a field with the price of his unrighteousness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20“For it is written in the book of Psalms,

‘LET HIS RESIDENCE BE MADE DESOLATE,

AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT’; and,

‘LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS [†]OFFICE.’

21Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out [†]among us— 22beginning [†]with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. 24And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen 25to take the place of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26And they [†]cast lots for them, and the lot fell [†]to Matthias; and he was [†]added to the eleven apostles.