1 THE former narration I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment, through the Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom he chose;
The Appearances of the Resurrected Christ
3 to whom also he showed himself living, after he had suffered, by many infallible proofs, during forty days appearing to them, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God.
4 And, being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which ye heard from me;
5 for John indeed immersed in water; but ye shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit, not many days hence.
6 They therefore, having come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said to them: It is not yours to know times or seasons, which the Father appointed by his own authority.
8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and unto the utmost part of the earth.
9 And having spoken these things, while they beheld he was borne up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they were looking intently into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 who also said: Men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye saw him going into heaven.
The Anticipation of the Spirit
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey.
13 And when they came in, they went up into the upper room, where were abiding both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer, with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
The Appointment of Matthias
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said (the number of names together was about a hundred and twenty):
16 Men, brethren, it was necessary that the scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who became guide to those who took Jesus.
17 Because he was numbered with us, and obtained the office of this ministry.—
18 Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it became known to all who dwell at Jerusalem; so that that field was called, in their own tongue, Aceldama, that is, Field of blood.—
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let his habitation be made desolate, And let no one dwell therein. And: Let another take his office.
21 Therefore, of these men, who accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from John's immersion, unto the day when he was taken up from us, must one be made a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, saying: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all, show which of these two thou didst choose,
25 that he may take part in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell away, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they gave their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.