1In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,[ † ]Luke 1:3 2until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.[ † ]Mark 16:19Acts 1:9-11, 22Matthew 28:19Mark 16:15John 20:21Acts 10:42 3After 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.[ † ]Matthew 28:17Mark 16:12-14Luke 24:34-36John 20:19-26John 21:1-141 Corinthians 15:5-7
4And while 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.[ † ]Luke 24:49John 14:16-17, 26John 15:26Acts 2:33 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”[ † ]Matthew 3:11Mark 1:8Luke 3:16John 1:33Acts 11:16Joel 2:28
6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.[ † ]1 Thessalonians 5:1Matthew 24:36Mark 13:32 8But 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.”[ † ]Acts 2:1-4Luke 24:49Luke 24:48John 15:27Acts 8:1-5, 14Matthew 28:19Mark 16:15Romans 10:18Colossians 1:23Revelation 14:6
9After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.[ † ]Luke 24:50-51Psalms 68:18Psalms 110:1Mark 16:19Luke 23:43John 20:17Acts 1:2Hebrews 4:14Hebrews 9:241 Peter 3:22 10They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.[ † ]Matthew 28:3Mark 16:5Luke 24:4John 20:12Acts 10:3-30 11“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.”[ † ]Daniel 7:13Mark 13:26Luke 21:27John 14:32 Thessalonians 1:10Revelation 1:7
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.[ † ]Luke 24:52 13When 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.[ † ]Mark 14:15Luke 22:12Acts 9:37-39Acts 20:8Matthew 10:2-4Luke 6:15Jude 1 14With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.[ † ]Acts 2:1-46Luke 23:49-55Matthew 13:55
15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said,[ † ]Luke 22:32Revelation 3:4 16“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus.[ † ]Psalms 41:9Matthew 26:47Mark 14:43Luke 22:47John 18:3 17He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”[ † ]Matthew 10:4Acts 1:25
18(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.[ † ]Matthew 27:3-10Matthew 18:7Matthew 26:14-15, 24Mark 14:21Luke 22:22John 17:12 19This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning 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.”[ † ]Acts 1:9Acts 1:8Acts 2:32
23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.[ † ]Acts 15:22 24And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen[ † ]1 Samuel 16:7Jeremiah 17:10Acts 1:2 25to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”[ † ]Acts 1:17
26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.