Acts of the Apostles 1

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning	1 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught
2 until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and wastaken up to heaven.	2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3 He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he hadcontinued to appear to them and tel them about the kingdom of God.	3 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 While at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Fatherhad promised. 'It is', he had said, 'what you have heard me speak about:	4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak;
5 John baptised with water but, not many days from now, you are going to be baptised with the HolySpirit.'	5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit."
6 Now having met together, they asked him, 'Lord, has the time come for you to restore the kingdom toIsrael?'	6 When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He replied, 'It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority,	7 He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.
8 but you wil receive the power of the Holy Spirit which wil come on you, and then you will be mywitnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to earth's remotest end.'	8 But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9 As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.	9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
10 They were stil staring into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men in white were standing besidethem,	10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
11 and they said, 'Why are you Galileans standing here looking into the sky? This Jesus who has beentaken up from you into heaven wil come back in the same way as you have seen him go to heaven.'	11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."
12 So from the Mount of Olives, as it is cal ed, they went back to Jerusalem, a short distance away, nomore than a Sabbath walk;	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 reached the city they went to the upper room where they were staying; there were Peterand John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus andSimon the Zealot, and Jude son of James.	13 When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
14 With one heart al these joined constantly in prayer, together with some women, including Mary themother of Jesus, and with his brothers.	14 All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers -- there were about a hundred and twenty people inthe congregation,	15 During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said,
16 'Brothers,' he said, 'the passage of scripture had to be fulfil ed in which the Holy Spirit, speaking through David, foretel s the fate of Judas, who acted as guide to the men who arrested Jesus-	16 "My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.
17 after being one of our number and sharing our ministry.	17 He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry.
18 As you know, he bought a plot of land with the money he was paid for his crime. He fell headlong andburst open, and al his entrails poured out.	18 He bought a parcel of land with the wages of his iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out.
19 Everybody in Jerusalem heard about it and the plot came to be cal ed "Bloody Acre", in their languageHakeldama.	19 This became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem, so that the parcel of land was called in their language 'Akeldama,' that is, Field of Blood.
20 Now in the Book of Psalms it says: Reduce his encampment to ruin and leave his tent unoccupied. Andagain: Let someone else take over his office.	20 For it is written in the Book of Psalms: 'Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it.' And: 'May another take his office.'
21 'Out of the men who have been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was living with us,	21 Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us,
22 from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us, one must beappointed to serve with us as a witness to his resurrection.'	22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection."
23 Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, andMatthias,	23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
24 they prayed, 'Lord, you can read everyone's heart; show us therefore which of these two you havechosen	24 Then they prayed, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
25 to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.'	25 to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place."
26 They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fel to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelveapostles.	26 Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.