Act 1 | LSB | STEP | The first account, O Theophilus, I composed, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,

Acts 1

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 The first account, O Theophilus, I ^{▼▼Lit made}composed, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had ^{▼▼Or through}by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to 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. 4 And ^{▼▼Or eating with, lodging with}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; 5 for ^{▼▼Gr Joannes, Heb Johanan; so in Acts}John baptized with water, but you will be baptized ^{▼▼Or in}with the Holy Spirit ^{▼▼Lit not long after these many days}not many days from now.”

6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 But He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority; 8 but 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 ^{▼▼Cf. Is 42:6; 49:6; Acts 13:47}the end of the earth.”

The Ascension

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into ^{▼▼Or heaven}the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They 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

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the ^{▼▼Or hill}mount called ^{▼▼Or Olive Grove}Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a ^{▼▼Approx. 0.6 mi. or 1 km}Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and ^{▼▼Or Jacob; James is the Eng form of Jacob; so in Acts}James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the ^{▼▼Or brother}son of James. 14 These all with one accord were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

15 And in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (a crowd of about 120 ^{▼▼Lit names}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. 17 For 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. 19 And 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 ^{▼▼Lit position as overseer}office.’
21 Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out ^{▼▼Lit to us}among us— 22 beginning ^{▼▼Lit from}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.” 23 And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to take the place of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they ^{▼▼Lit gave}cast lots for them, and the lot fell ^{▼▼Or upon}to Matthias; and he was ^{▼▼Lit voted together with}added to the eleven apostles.