1Dear Theophilus, ⁰in my previous book I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning

2until the day he was taken up to heaven. This was after he'd given instructions through the Holy Spirit to his chosen apostles.

3Over the course of forty days after the death he suffered, he showed himself to them, proving that he was alive with convincing evidence. He appeared to them, and told them about the kingdom of God.

4While he was still with them ¹he instructed them, “Do not leave Jerusalem. Wait to receive what the Father promised, just as you heard it from me.

5It's true that John baptized in water, but in just a few days' time you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.”

6So when the disciples met with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will re-establish Israel's kingdom?”

7“You don't need to know about the dates and times that are set by the Father's authority,” he told them.

8“But you will be given power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest places on earth.”

9After Jesus had told them this, he was taken up as they were watching and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10While they were staring intently at the sky as he ascended, two men dressed in white were suddenly standing beside them.

11“Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky?” they asked. “This same Jesus who has been taken up from you to heaven shall come in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”

12Then the disciples went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives which is about a Sabbath day's walk from Jerusalem. ²

13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying: Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

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

15At this time Peter stood up and addressed a crowd of around one hundred and twenty believers who had gathered together.

16“My brothers and sisters,” he said, “The Scriptures, spoken by the Holy Spirit through David, had to be fulfilled regarding Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus.

17He was counted as one of us, and shared in this ministry.”

18(Judas had bought a field with his ill-gotten gains. There he fell down headfirst, and his body burst apart, spilling out all his intestines.

19Everybody who lived in Jerusalem heard about this so that the field was called in their language “Akeldama,” which means, “Field of blood.”)

20As it's written in the book of Psalms, “Let his home be abandoned, and no one live there,” and “Let someone else take over his position.” ³

21“So now we have to choose someone who has been with us the whole time that Jesus was with us,

22from the time John was baptizing up until the day Jesus was taken up to heaven from us. One of these must be chosen to join together with us as we witness, giving evidence of Jesus' resurrection.”

23Two names were put forward: Joseph Justus, also known as Barsabbas, and Matthias.

24They prayed together and said, “Lord, you know everyone's thoughts. ⁴Please show us which of these two you have chosen

25to replace Judas as an apostle in this ministry that he gave up to go to where he belongs.”

26They cast lots, and Matthias was chosen. He was counted as an apostle with the other eleven.