The Promise of the Holy Spirit

11 The first account I [1]composed , Theophilus , about all that Jesus began to do and teach , 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had [2]by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen . 3 To [3]these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering , by many convincing proofs , appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God . 4 [4]Gathering them together , He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem , but to wait for [5] what the Father had promised , "Which ," He said, "you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water , but you will be baptized [6]with the Holy Spirit [7] not many days from now e ."

The Ascension

6 So when they had come together , they were asking Him, saying , "Lord , is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel ?" 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority ; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem , and in all Judea and Samaria , and even to the remotest part of the earth ." 9 And after He had said these things , He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight . 10 And as they were gazing intently into [8]the sky while He was going , behold , two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said , " Men of Galilee , why do you stand looking into [9]the sky ? This Jesus , who has been taken up from you into heaven , will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven ."

Judas' Successor Chosen

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the [10] mount called [11]Olivet , which is near Jerusalem , a [12]Sabbath day's journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying ; that is, Peter and John and [13]James and Andrew , Philip and Thomas , Bartholomew and Matthew , [13]James the son of Alphaeus , and Simon the Zealot , and Judas the [15]son of [13]James . 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer , along with the women , and Mary the mother of Jesus , and with His brothers .

15 [17]At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty [18]persons was there together e e ), and said , 16 "Brethren e , the Scripture had to be fulfilled , which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas , who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus . 17 "For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry ." 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness , and falling headlong , he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem ; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama , that is, Field of Blood .) 20 "For it is written in the book of Psalms , ' LET HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE , AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT'; and, ' LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS [19]OFFICE .' 21 "Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out [20]among us- 22 beginning [21]with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us-one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection ." 23 So they put forward two men , Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus ), and Matthias . 24 And they prayed and said , "You, Lord , who know the hearts of all men , show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to [22]occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place ." 26 And they [23] drew lots for them, and the lot fell [24]to Matthias ; and he was [25]added to the eleven apostles .