1In my first account, Theophilus, I wrote about everything Jesus began to do and to teach,
2up until the day he was taken up to heaven. Before that, through the Holy Spirit, he gave instructions to the apostles he had chosen.
3After his suffering, he showed himself to them alive with many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4While he was eating with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised — the gift he had spoken to them about.
5John baptized with water, but within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
6When they were all together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He told them, "It is not for you to know the times or dates that the Father has set by his own authority.
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
10They were staring up into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why are you standing here looking up at the sky? This same Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go."
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, which is about a mile from Jerusalem.
13When they arrived, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
15In those days Peter stood up among the believers — a group of about a hundred and twenty people — and said,
16"Brothers and sisters, the scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke through David about Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.
17Judas was one of our number and had a share in our ministry.
18With the money he received for his crime, he bought a field. There he fell headfirst and his body burst open, and all his intestines spilled out.
19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they named that field in their language Akeldama, which means Field of Blood.
20For it is written in the Book of Psalms: 'May his place be deserted and left with no one to live in it,' and, 'May another take his position of leadership.'
21So now we must choose someone to fill the place of Judas from among those who have been with us the entire time that the Lord Jesus was among us,
22beginning from John's baptism up to the day Jesus was taken up from us. One of them must become a witness with us of his resurrection.
23They nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas — also known as Justus — and Matthias.
24Then they prayed: "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
25to take over this apostolic ministry that Judas left to go to the place he deserved."
26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. He was added to the eleven apostles.