1The first account I Lit madecomposed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,

2until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had given orders Or throughby the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen.

3To Lit whomthese He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the kingdom of God.

4Or eating with; or lodging withGathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for Lit the promise of the Fatherwhat the Father had promised, “Which,”He said,“you heard of from Me;

6So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

7But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority;

9And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight.

10And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them,

11and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Or hillmountain called Or Olive GroveOlivet, which is near Jerusalem, a 2,000 cubits, or about 0.6 miles or 1 kmSabbath day’s journey away.

13When they had entered the city, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, Peter, John, Or JacobJames, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, Or JacobJames the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas theOr brotherson of Or JacobJames.

14All these were continually devoting themselves with one Or purposemind to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

15Lit In these daysAt this time Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 Lit namespeople was there together), and said,

16“Lit Men, brothersBrothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

17For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.”

18(Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out.

19And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result that field was called Hakeldama in their own language, that is, Field of Blood.)

20“For it is written in the book of Psalms:

21Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out Lit to usamong us—

22beginning Lit fromwith the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.

24And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen

25to Lit take the place ofoccupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

26And they Lit gavedrew lots for them, and the lot fell Or uponto Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.