Acts - 1

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

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:

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:

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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 - .

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

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,)

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 - .

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

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.

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.

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

23 - And they appointed two, Joseph - called Barsabas, who was surnamed 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,

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.

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