Acts 1
1
Introduction
1In my first book, Theophilus, I wrote about what Jesus began to do and teach. This included everything from the beginning ⌞of his life⌟ 2until the day he was taken to heaven. Before he was taken to heaven, he gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles, whom he had chosen.
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
3After his death Jesus showed the apostles a lot of convincing evidence that he was alive. For 40 days he appeared to them and talked with them about God’s kingdom.
4Once, while he was meeting with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for what the Father had promised. Jesus said to them, “I’ve told you what the Father promises: 5John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6So when the apostles came together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you’re going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7Jesus told them, “You don’t need to know about times or periods that the Father has determined by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9After he had said this, he was taken to heaven. A cloud hid him so that they could no longer see him.
10They were staring into the sky as he departed. Suddenly, two men in white clothes stood near them. 11They asked, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking at the sky? Jesus, who was taken from you to heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven.”
A New Apostle Takes Judas’ Place
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives. It is near Jerusalem, about half a mile away.
13When they came into the city, Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon the Zealot, and Judas (son of James) went to the second-story room where they were staying.
14The apostles had a single purpose as they devoted themselves to prayer. They were joined by some women, including Mary (the mother of Jesus), and they were joined by his brothers.
15At a time when about 120 disciples had gathered together, Peter got up and spoke to them.
He said, 16“Brothers, what the Holy Spirit predicted through David in Scripture about Judas had to come true. Judas led the men to arrest Jesus. 17He had been one of us and had been given an active role in this ministry. 18With the money he received from the wrong he had done, he bought a piece of land where he fell headfirst to his death. His body split open, and all his internal organs came out. 19Everyone living in Jerusalem knows about this. They even call that piece of land Akeldama, which means ‘Field of Blood’ in their dialect. 20You’ve read in Psalms, ‘Let his home be deserted, and let no one live there,’ and ‘Let someone else take his position.’
“Therefore, someone must be added to our number to serve with us as a witness that Jesus came back to life. 21He must be one of the men who accompanied Jesus with us the entire time that the Lord Jesus was among us. 22This person must have been with us from the time that John was baptizing people to the day that Jesus was taken from us.” #1:22 Verses 21–22 have been rearranged to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.
23The disciples determined that two men were qualified. These men were Joseph (who was called Barsabbas and was also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s thoughts. Show us which of these two you have chosen. 25Show us who is to take the place of Judas as an apostle, since Judas abandoned his position to go to the place where he belongs.”
26They drew names to choose an apostle. Matthias was chosen and joined the eleven apostles.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Acts 1
1
Prologue
1The former account I made, O #Luke 1:3Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2#Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9, 11, 22until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit #Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 10:42had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3#Matt. 28:17; Mark 16:12, 14; Luke 24:34, 36; John 20:19, 26; 21:1, 14; 1 Cor. 15:5–7to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
The Holy Spirit Promised
4#Luke 24:49And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have #(John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26); Acts 2:33heard from Me; 5#Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16for John truly baptized with water, #(Joel 2:28)but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7And He said to them, #1 Thess. 5:1“It is not for you to #Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8#(Acts 2:1, 4)But you shall receive power #Luke 24:49when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and #Luke 24:48; John 15:27you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and #Acts 8:1, 5, 14Samaria, and to the #Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Rom. 10:18; Col. 1:23; (Rev. 14:6)end of the earth.”
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
9#Luke 24:50, 51Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, #Ps. 68:18; 110:1; Mark 16:19; Luke 23:43; John 20:17; Acts 1:2; (Heb. 4:14; 9:24; 1 Pet. 3:22)He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them #Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; John 20:12; Acts 10:3, 30in white apparel, 11who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, #Dan. 7:13; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27; (John 14:3); 2 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 1:7will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
The Upper Room Prayer Meeting
12#Luke 24:52Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13And when they had entered, they went up #Mark 14:15; Luke 22:12; Acts 9:37, 39; 20:8into the upper room where they were staying: #Matt. 10:2–4Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and #Luke 6:15Simon the Zealot; and #Jude 1Judas the son of James. 14#Acts 2:1, 46These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with #Luke 23:49, 55the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with #Matt. 13:55His brothers.
Matthias Chosen
15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number #Luke 22:32; Rev. 3:4of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16“Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, #Ps. 41:9which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, #Matt. 26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47; John 18:3who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17for #Matt. 10:4he was numbered with us and obtained a part in #Acts 1:25this ministry.”
18#Matt. 27:3–10(Now this man purchased a field with #Matt. 18:7; 26:14, 15, 24; Mark 14:21; Luke 22:22; John 17:12the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20“For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
#Ps. 69:25‘Let his dwelling place be desolate,
And let no one live in it’;
and,
#Ps. 109:8‘Let another take his office.’
21“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John to that day when #Acts 1:9He was taken up from us, one of these must #Acts 1:8; 2:32become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23And they proposed two: Joseph called #Acts 15:22Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, #1 Sam. 16:7; Jer. 17:10; Acts 1:2who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25#Acts 1:17to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.