The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 ^aIn the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was ^btaken up, after he had given ^ccommands through the Holy Spirit to the ^dapostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many ^eproofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying¹ with them he ordered them ^fnot to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the ^gpromise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized ^hwith water, but ⁱyou will be baptized with² the ^jHoly Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension

6 ^kSo when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this ^ltime restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive ^mpower when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my ⁿwitnesses in ^oJerusalem and in all ^pJudea and ^qSamaria, and to the ^rend of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was ^slifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in ^twhite robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was ^utaken up from you into heaven, will come ^vin the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, ^wPeter 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 these with one accord were ^xdevoting themselves to prayer, together with the ^ywomen and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.³

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning ^zJudas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 ^a(Now this man acquired a field with ^bthe reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong⁴ he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

and

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from ^ethe baptism of John until the day when he was ^ftaken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they ^gprayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

My Refuge and My Fortress