1 ¶ In my first book, Theophilus, I wrote about everything that Jesus began to do and teach,

2 Until the day that he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom he also showed that he was alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them for forty days, and talking with them of things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 And, while he was with them, commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, of which, he said, you have heard me speak.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.

6 ¶ So when they were together, they asked him, Lord, will you restore the kingdom to Israel at this time?

7 And he said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the dates, that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

8 But you will receive power, after the Holy Ghost has come upon you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the most distant parts of the earth.

9 And after he had said these things, while they watched, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they were looking intently up toward heaven as he ascended, behold, two men in white apparel stood by them;

11 And they asked, Why are you men of Galilee gazing up into heaven? the same Jesus, that has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go into heaven.

12 ¶ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is about a sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem.

13 And when they got back, they went to an upper room, where they were staying, that is Peter, James, John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

14 They all joined together continually in prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15 ¶ During that time Peter stood up among the disciples, and said, (the number of those present was about an hundred and twenty,)

16 Men and brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, that the Holy Ghost long ago spoke by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

17 For he was one of our number, and was given a share in this ministry.

18 Now this man purchased a field with the payment for his iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.

19 And everyone living in Jerusalem heard about it; so they called that field in their language, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his dwelling place be deserted, and let no man live there: and let another take his office.

21 Therefore from those men who have been with us during the entire time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 Beginning from the baptism of John, to the same day when he was taken up from us, one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.

23 So they nominated two men, Joseph called Barsabas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.

24 And they prayed, saying, Lord, you know the hearts of all men, show which of these two you have chosen,

25 That he may take the place in this apostolic ministry, from which Judas fell through transgression, to go to the place where he belongs.

26 And they provided lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.