Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The former account I have already presented to you, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and teach. He had instructed the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit until the day he was taken up.

Jesus showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Assembled together with them, he commanded them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, which you had heard from him. For John truly baptized with water; but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

When they gathered together, they asked Jesus, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has placed in his own power. But you will receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth."

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld him, he was taken up into a cloud from their sight. As they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, two men stood by them in white apparel. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why are you standing there gazing up at heaven? This same Jesus who was taken from you into heaven will return in the same way that you saw him go."

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is a day's journey from the city. When they arrived, they went up to an upper room where Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas brother of James were staying.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, along with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. Peter stood up among the disciples, saying, "The number of names together was about an hundred and twenty men and brothers."

"This scripture must have been fulfilled," Peter said, "which the Holy Spirit spoke through David before concerning Judas, who was a guide to those who took Jesus." For he was counted among us and had received part of this ministry. Now this man bought a field with money he had received for his wicked deeds; and falling headlong, he burst apart in the middle and all his internal organs spilled out.

It became known to all the residents of Jerusalem that the field where Judas had bought with his wages was called in their language Aceldama, which means "the field of blood." For it is written in the book of Psalms, let his dwelling place be desolate and uninhabited, and let another take over his office.

Therefore, from those men who have consistently accompanied us during the entire time that the Lord Jesus was with us – from John's baptism to the day he was taken up – one must be appointed with us as a witness to his resurrection. They appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

They prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know every person's heart, show us which of these two you have chosen that he may take part in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas fell through transgression, that he might go to his own place." And they cast lots, with the lot falling on Matthias, who was numbered with the eleven apostles.