1 The firstaccount I [a]composed, 1Theophilus, aboutall that Jesus2began to do and teach,
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until the day when He 3was taken up to heaven, after He 4had [b]by the HolySpiritgivenorders to 5the apostleswhom He had 6chosen.
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To [c]these7He alsopresentedHimselfaliveafter His suffering, by manyconvincingproofs, appearing to them over a period of fortydays and speaking of 8the things concerning the kingdom of God.
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[d]Gathering them together, He commanded them 9not to leaveJerusalem, but to wait for [e]10what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me;
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for 11Johnbaptized with water, but you will be baptized[f]with the HolySpirit[g]12not manydays from now*."
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So when they had cometogether, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, 13is it at thistime You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"
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He said to them, "It is not for you to knowtimesorepochswhich14the Father has fixed by His ownauthority;
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but you will receivepower15when the HolySpirit has come upon you; and you shall be 16My witnessesboth in Jerusalem, and in allJudea and 17Samaria, and even to 18the remotestpart of the earth."
The Ascension
9 And after He had saidthesethings, 19He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloudreceived Him out of their sight.
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And as they were gazingintently into [h]the sky while He was going, behold, 20twomen in whiteclothingstoodbeside them.
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They alsosaid, "21Men of Galilee, why do you standlooking into [i]the sky? ThisJesus, who 22has been taken up from you into heaven, will 23come in just the sameway as you have watched Him go into heaven."
The Upper Room
12Then they 24returned to Jerusalem from the [j]25mountcalled[k]Olivet, which is nearJerusalem, a [l]Sabbath day's journey away.
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When they had entered the city, they went up to 26the upperroomwhere they were staying; 27that is, Peter and John and [m]James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, [n]James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and 28Judas the [o]son of [p]James.
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Theseall with onemind29were continuallydevotingthemselves to prayer, along with 30the women, and Mary the 31mother of Jesus, and with His 32brothers.
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[q]At thistimePeterstood up in the midst of 33the brethren (a gathering of aboutonehundred and twenty[r]persons was there together** ), and said,
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"Brethren*, 34the Scripturehad to be fulfilled, which the HolySpiritforetold by the mouth of DavidconcerningJudas, 35who became a guide to those who arrestedJesus.
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"For he was 36countedamong us and received his share in 37thisministry."
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(Nowthisman38acquired a field with 39the price of his wickedness, and fallingheadlong, he burstopen in the middle and all his intestinesgushed out.
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And it becameknown to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in 40their ownlanguage that field was calledHakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
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"For it is written in the book of Psalms, '41LET HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADEDESOLATE, AND LET NOONEDWELL IN IT'; and, '42LET ANOTHERMANTAKE HIS [s]OFFICE.'
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"Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that 43the LordJesuswent in and out [t]among us-
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44beginning[u]with the baptism of Johnuntil the day that He 45was taken up from us-one of these must become a 46witness with us of His resurrection."
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So they putforwardtwomen, JosephcalledBarsabbas (who was also calledJustus ), and 47Matthias.
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And they 48prayed and said, "You, Lord, 49whoknow the hearts of allmen, showwhichone of thesetwo You have chosen
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to [v]occupy50thisministry and 51apostleship from whichJudasturnedaside to go to his ownplace."
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And they [w]52drewlots for them, and the lotfell[x]to 53Matthias; and he was [y]added to 54the elevenapostles.