Acts, 1

1. The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

1. In the first part of my work, Theophilus, I wrote of all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning

2. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

2. until the day when he ascended to heaven. But first he had instructed through the Holy Spirit the apostles he had chosen.

3. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

3. After his passion, he presented himself to them, giving many signs that he was alive; over a period of forty days he appeared to them and taught them concerning the Kingdom of God.

4. And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard of me.

4. Once when he had been eating with them, he told them, "Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the fulfillment of the Father's promise about which I have spoken to you:

5. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

5. John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit within a few days."

6. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

6. When they had come together, they asked him, "Is it now that you will restore the Kingdom of Israel?"

7. And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

7. And he answered, "It is not for you to know the time and the steps which the Father has fixed by his own authority.

8. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the earth."

9. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

9. After Jesus said this, he was taken up before their eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

10. While they were still looking up to heaven where he went, suddenly, two men dressed in white stood beside them

11. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

11. and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will return in the same way as you have seen him go there."

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

12. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olives, which is a fifteen-minute walk away.

13. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of James.

13. On entering the city they went to the room upstairs where they were staying. Present there were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alpheus; Simon the Zealot and Judas son of James.

14. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

14. All of these together gave themselves to constant prayer. With them were some women and also Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

15. It was during this time that Peter stood up in the midst of the community - about one hundred and twenty in all -

16. Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

16. and he said, "Brothers, it was necessary that the Scriptures referring to Judas be fulfilled. The Holy Spirit had spoken through David about the one who would lead the crowd coming to arrest Jesus.

17. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

17. He was one of our number and had been called to share our common ministry.

18. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

18. (We know that he bought a field with the reward of his sin; yet he threw himself headlong to his death, his body burst open and all his bowels spilled out.

19. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

19. This event became known to all the people living in Jerusalem and they named that field Akeldama in their own language, which means Field of Blood).

20. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

20. In the book of Psalms it is written: Let his house become deserted and may no one live in it. But it is also written: May another take his office.

21. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

21. Therefore we must choose someone from among those who were with us during all the time that the Lord Jesus moved about with us,

22. Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

22. beginning with John's baptism until the day when Jesus was taken away from us. One of these has to become, with us, a witness to his resurrection."

23. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

23. Then they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, also known as Justus, and Matthias.

24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

24. They prayed: "You know, Lord, what is in the hearts of all. Show us, therefore, which of the two you have chosen

25. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

25. to replace Judas in this apostolic ministry which he deserted to go to the place he deserved."

26. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

26. Then they drew lots between the two and the choice fell on Matthias who was added to the eleven apostles.