1 In my first account, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself alive to them with many convincing proofs, appearing to them over forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While gathered with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “You heard about it from me. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. 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 After he said this, he was lifted up as they watched, and a cloud took him from their sight. 10 As they were gazing into heaven while he went, suddenly two men in white clothes stood beside them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, about half a mile away. 13 When they entered the city, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying: Peter, John, James, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All of them devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, along with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters—there were about a hundred and twenty people gathered—and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and received a share in this ministry.” 18 Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness. Falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out. 19 This became known to everyone living in Jerusalem, so that in their own language the field was called Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.

20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms,

and,

21 So one of the men who accompanied us throughout the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning with John’s baptism until the day he was taken up from us, must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” 23 They put forward two men: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also named Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship that Judas abandoned to go to his own place.” 26 They cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.