1   In the first part of my work, Theophilus, I wrote of 2   all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up to heaven. 3   He showed himself to these men after his death, and gave ample proof that he was alive: over a period of forty days he appeared to them and taught them about the kingdom of God. 4   While he was in their company he told them not to leave Jerusalem. ‘You must wait’, he said, ‘for the promise made by my Father, about which you have heard me speak: 5   John, as you know, baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and within the next few days.’

6   So, when they were all together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you are to establish once again the sovereignty of Israel?’ 7   He answered, ‘It is not for you to know about dates or times, which the Father has set within his own control. 8   But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will bear witness for me in Jerusalem, and all over Judaea and Samaria, and away to the ends of the earth.’

9   When he had said this, as they watched, he was lifted up, and a cloud removed him from their sight. 10   As he was going, and as they were gazing intently into the sky, all at once there stood beside them two men in white who said, 11   ‘Men of Galilee, why stand there looking up into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken away from you up to heaven, will come in the same way as you have seen him go.’

12   Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, no farther than a Sabbath day's journey. 13   Entering the city they went to the room upstairs where they were lodging: Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the

The beginnings of the church Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14   All these were constantly at prayer together, and with them a group of women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15   It was during this time that Peter stood up before the assembled brotherhood, about one hundred and twenty in all, and said: 16   ‘My friends, the prophecy in Scripture was bound to come true, which the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of David, uttered about Judas who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17   For he was one of our number and had his place in this ministry.’ 18   (This Judas, be it noted, after buying a plot of land with the price of his villainy, fell forward on the ground, and burst open, so that his entrails poured out. 19   This became known to everyone in Jerusalem, and they named the property in their own language Akeldama, which means ‘Blood Acre’.) 20   ‘The text I have in mind’, Peter continued, ‘is in the Book of Psalms: “Let his homestead fall desolate; let there be none to inhabit it”; and again, “Let another take over his charge.” 21   Therefore one of those who bore us company all the while we had the Lord Jesus with us, 22   coming and going, from John's ministry of baptism until the day when he was taken up from us—one of those must now join us as a witness to his resurrection.’

23   Two names were put forward: Joseph, who was known as Barsabbas, and bore the added name of Justus; and Matthias. 24   Then they prayed and said, ‘Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, 25   declare which of these two thou hast chosen to receive this office of ministry and apostleship which Judas abandoned to go where he belonged.’ 26   They drew lots and the lot fell on Matthias, who was then assigned a place among the twelve apostles. ^note

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