Acts, 1

1. In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught

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

2. until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

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

3. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

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.

4. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak;

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:

5. for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit."

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

6. When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

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

7. He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.

7. He replied, 'It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided 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, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

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.'

9. When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.

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

10. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.

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

11. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."

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.'

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

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;

13. When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

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.

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

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

15. During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said,

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

16. "My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.

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-

17. He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry.

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

18. He bought a parcel of land with the wages of his iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out.

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.

19. This became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem, so that the parcel of land was called in their language 'Akeldama,' that is, Field of Blood.

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

20. For it is written in the Book of Psalms: 'Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it.' And: 'May another take his office.'

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.

21. Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us,

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

22. beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection."

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.'

23. So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.

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

24. Then they prayed, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

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

25. to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place."

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

26. Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.

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