1 IN my first book, Theophilus, I told of all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
2 down to the day when, after giving commands, through the Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up to heaven.
3 By many proofs he revealed himself to these men as still alive after his sufferings; for he was seen by them for forty days and spoke of things relating to the kingdom of God.
4 Also while eating with them, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, "which," said he, "you have heard from me.
5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence."
6 When they came together, they asked him, "Master, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them, "It is not yours to know the times and seasons which the Father has put under his own authority.
8 But you will receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and in Samaria and to the ends of the earth."
9 He said this and then, while they were looking on, he was taken up and a cloud lifted him from their sight.
10 They were gazing into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men in white robes were standing beside them
11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing and looking up into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you have seen him go into heaven."
12 They then returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Olive Orchard, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey distant.
13 When they came into the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying. There were Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14 All of these continued earnestly and unitedly in prayer with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren the company numbered about a hundred and twenty and said:
16 "Brethren, it was necessary that the Scripture should be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17 For he was numbered among us and received a share in this service.
18 (This man bought a piece of land with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst asunder and all his entrails were poured out.
19 It became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that that field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, the Field of Blood.)
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his dwelling become desolate and let there be no one living in it,' and, 'His overseership let another take.'
21 It is needful, therefore, that of the men who have been with us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 from the baptism of John down to the day that he was taken up from us \'97 that one of these should become a witness with us of his resurrection."
23 So they put forward two, Joseph who is called Barsabbas, surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 In prayer they said, "O Lord, thou who knowest the hearts of all, show which one of these two thou has chosen
25 to take the place in this service and apostleship which Judas deserted to go to his own place."
26 Then they cast lots between them. The lot fell on Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.