CHAPTER 1
until
the
day
He was taken up to heaven,
after giving instructions
through
the Holy
Spirit
to the
apostles
He had chosen.
After
His
suffering,
He presented
Himself
to them
with
many
convincing proofs
that He was alive.
He appeared
to them
over a span
of forty
days
and
spoke
about
the
kingdom
of God.
And
when they were gathered together,
He commanded
them:
“Do not leave
Jerusalem,
but
wait for
the gift
the
Father
promised,
which
you have heard
Me discuss .
So
when they
came together,
they asked
Him,
“Lord,
will You at
this
time
restore
the
kingdom
to Israel?”
Jesus replied,
“It is
not
for you
to know
times
or
seasons
that
the
Father
has fixed
by
His own
authority.
But
you will receive
power
when the
Holy
Spirit
comes
upon
you,
and
you will be
My
witnesses
in
Jerusalem,
and
in
all
Judea
and
Samaria,
and
to
the ends
of the
earth."
They were
looking intently
into
the
sky
as He
was going,
when
suddenly
two
men
dressed
in
white
stood beside
them.
“Men
of Galilee,”
they said,
“why
do you stand here
looking
into
the
sky?
This
same
Jesus,
who
has been taken
from
you
into
heaven,
will come back
in the same way
you have seen
Him
go
into
heaven.”
Then
they returned
to
Jerusalem
from
the Mount
of
Olives,
which
is
near
the city,
a Sabbath day’s
journey
away.
When
they arrived,
they went
to
the
upper room
where
they were
staying:
Peter
and
John,
James
and
Andrew,
Philip
and
Thomas,
Bartholomew
and
Matthew,
James son
of Alphaeus,
Simon
the
Zealot,
and
Judas son
of James.
With one accord
they
all
continued
in prayer,
along with
the women
and
Mary
the
mother
of Jesus,
and
with
His
brothers.
In
those
days
Peter
stood up
among
the
brothers
(a gathering
of
about
a hundred
and twenty)
and
said,
“Brothers,
the
Scripture
had to
be fulfilled
which
the
Holy
Spirit
foretold
through
the mouth
of David
concerning
Judas,
who
became
a guide
for those who
arrested
Jesus.
(
With
the reward
of his
wickedness
Judas
bought
a field,
and
falling
headlong,
he burst open
in the middle
and
all
his
intestines
spilled out.
This became
known
to everyone
living
in Jerusalem;
so
they called
that
field
in
their
own
language
Akeldama,
that
is,
Field
of Blood.)
“For
it is written
in
the book
of Psalms:
‘May his
dwelling
be
deserted;
let there be
no
one
to live
in
it,’
and,
‘May another
take
his
office.’
Therefore
it is necessary to select
one of the
men
who have accompanied
us
the whole
time
the
Lord
Jesus
went in
and
out
among
us,
beginning
from
John’s
baptism
until
the
day
Jesus was taken up
from
us.
For one
of these
must become
a witness
with
us
of
His
resurrection.”