Act 1 | BSB | STEP | In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,

Acts 1

Prologue

1 In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, 2 until the day He was taken up [to heaven] , after giving instructions through [the] Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. 3 After His suffering, He presented Himself to [them] with many convincing proofs [that] He was alive. He appeared to them over [a span ] of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 And while they were gathered together, ^{▼▼Or eating together} He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the [gift] the Father promised, which you have heard Me [ discuss ] . 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with ^{▼▼Or in} [the] Holy Spirit.”

The Ascension

6 So [when] they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, {will You} at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 [Jesus] replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power [when] the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to [the] ends of the earth.” 9 [After] He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, [when] suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand [here] looking into the sky? This [same] Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Matthias Replaces Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from [the] Mount of Olives, which is near [the city] , a Sabbath day’s journey ^{▼▼That is, approximately 5/8 mile or about 1 kilometer} away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James [son] of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas [son] of James. 14 With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with [the] women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers ( a gathering of about a hundred [and] twenty ) [and] said, 16 “vvv Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit foretold through [the] mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.” 18 ( - With [the] reward for [his] wickedness [Judas] bought a field; and [there] he fell headlong and burst open in [the] middle, and all his intestines spilled out. 19 [This] became known to all who lived in Jerusalem; so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in [the] book of Psalms: ‘ {May} his place be deserted; let there be no [one] to dwell in it,’ ^{▼▼Psalm 69:25} and, ‘ {May} another take his position.’ ^{▼▼Psalm 109:8} 21 Therefore it is necessary [to select] one of the men who have accompanied us [the] whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism until the day [Jesus] was taken up from us. [For] one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 [So] they proposed two [men] : Joseph called Barsabbas ( - [also] known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show [us] which of these two You have chosen 25 to assume this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his [rightful] place.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; [so] he was added to the eleven apostles.