Acts, 1

1. In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning

1. In the first book, O The-oph'ilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,

2. until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven.

2. until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

3. He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God.

3. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.

4. While at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. 'It is', he had said, 'what you have heard me speak about:

4. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me,

5. John baptised with water but, not many days from now, you are going to be baptised with the Holy Spirit.'

5. for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

6. Now having met together, they asked him, 'Lord, has the time come for you to restore the kingdom to Israel?'

6. So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7. He replied, 'It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority,

7. He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.

8. but you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to earth's remotest end.'

8. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama'ria and to the end of the earth."

9. As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.

9. And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

10. They were still staring into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men in white were standing beside them,

10. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,

11. and they said, 'Why are you Galileans standing here looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way as you have seen him go to heaven.'

11. and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

12. So from the Mount of Olives, as it is called, they went back to Jerusalem, a short distance away, no more than a Sabbath walk;

12. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away;

13. and when they reached the city they went to the upper room where they were staying; there were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude son of James.

13. and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, 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.

14. With one heart all these joined constantly in prayer, together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

14. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15. One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers -- there were about a hundred and twenty people in the congregation,

15. In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said,

16. 'Brothers,' he said, 'the passage of scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit, speaking through David, foretells the fate of Judas, who acted as guide to the men who arrested Jesus-

16. "Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus.

17. after being one of our number and sharing our ministry.

17. For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry.

18. As you know, he bought a plot of land with the money he was paid for his crime. He fell headlong and burst open, and all his entrails poured out.

18. (Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

19. Everybody in Jerusalem heard about it and the plot came to be called "Bloody Acre", in their language Hakeldama.

19. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Akel'dama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20. Now in the Book of Psalms it says: Reduce his encampment to ruin and leave his tent unoccupied. And again: Let someone else take over his office.

20. For it is written in the book of Psalms, `Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and `His office let another take.'

21. 'Out of the men who have been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was living with us,

21. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22. from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us, one must be appointed to serve with us as a witness to his resurrection.'

22. beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us -- one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."

23. Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias,

23. And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab'bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi'as.

24. they prayed, 'Lord, you can read everyone's heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen

24. And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen

25. to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.'

25. to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place."

26. They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.

26. And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi'as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.