1The former treatise have I made, O
Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and
teach,
2Until 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:
3To 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:
4And, 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.
5For
John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6When they therefore were come together, they
asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time
restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7And 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.
8But
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.
9And when he had spoken these things, while
they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received
him out of their sight.
10And while they looked stedfastly toward
heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them
in white apparel;
11Which 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.
12Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the
mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a
sabbath day's journey.
13And 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.
14These all continued with one accord in
prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary
the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15And 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,)
16Men 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.
17For he was numbered with us, and had
obtained part of this ministry.
18Now 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.
19And 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.
20For 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.
21Wherefore of these men which have companied
with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and
out among us,
22Beginning 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.
23And they appointed two, Joseph called
Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord,
which knowest the hearts of all men,
shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25That he may take part of this ministry and
apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell,
that he might go to his own place.
26And they gave forth their lots; and the lot
fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the
eleven apostles.
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