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Acts 1
1The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
2until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God’s Kingdom.
4Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.
5For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the not many days from now.”
6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring to Israel?”
7He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
8But you will receive power when the has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
9When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
11who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
13When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying, that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,
16“Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.
17For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry.
18Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness; and falling headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines gushed out.
19It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’
20For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell in it;’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’
21“Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his .”
23They put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
24They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen
25to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.”
26They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
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Questions this passage answers
Who is God?
God is the one living Creator who made everything and depends on nothing, and Scripture answers this question mainly by telling us his character rather than by defining his substance. When God described himself to Moses he said he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in loving kindness and truth, and yet will by no means clear the guilty. The New Testament adds that this God is finally known in Jesus Christ, who has made him known.
Can the Bible be trusted?
Scripture claims to be true and invites examination rather than avoiding it. It says God's word is truth and that it stands when everything else fades, and the New Testament writers appeal to eyewitnesses, named places and public events rather than to private experience. Trust in Scripture is finally trust in the God who speaks in it, and the clearest reason a Christian gives for that trust is that Jesus treated these writings as God's own word.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Scripture speaks of the Holy Spirit as a person rather than a force. Jesus calls him another Counselor whom the Father sends, and says he teaches, reminds, guides, convicts and speaks. Peter calls lying to the Holy Spirit lying to God. He is the one who gives new birth, dwells in believers, produces Christlike character, and always points to Christ rather than to himself.
What is repentance in the Bible?
Scripture describes repentance as turning: a change of mind about sin and about God that turns a person away from sin and toward God, and shows itself in what follows. It is more than regret, since Scripture distinguishes godly sorrow that leads to repentance from worldly sorrow that only produces death, and it is God's gift as well as our act.