The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach
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In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2 until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven.
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until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3 After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God.
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He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me.
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And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;
5 John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."
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for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. ”
6 When they were together for the last time they asked, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?"
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So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? ”
7 He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business.
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He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8 What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."
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But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. ”
9 These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud.
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And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
10 They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared - in white robes!
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And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
11 They said, "You Galileans! - why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly - and mysteriously - as he left."
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and 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 as you saw him go into heaven. ”
12 So they left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem. It was a little over half a mile.
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Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
13 They went to the upper room they had been using as a meeting place: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas, son of James.
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And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.
14 They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus' mother, Mary, and his brothers. Replacing Judas
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All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 During this time, Peter stood up in the company - there were about one hundred twenty of them in the room at the time -
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In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,
16 and said, "Friends, long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David regarding Judas, who became the guide to those who arrested Jesus. That Scripture had to be fulfilled, and now has been.
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“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17 Judas was one of us and had his assigned place in this ministry.
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For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. ”
18 "As you know, he took the evil bribe money and bought a small farm. There he came to a bad end, rupturing his belly and spilling his guts.
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(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
19 Everybody in Jerusalem knows this by now; they call the place Murder Meadow.
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And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood. )
20 It's exactly what we find written in the Psalms: Let his farm become haunted So no one can ever live there. "And also what was written later: Let someone else take over his post.
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“For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office. ’
21 "Judas must now be replaced. The replacement must come from the company of men who stayed together with us
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So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 from the time Jesus was baptized by John up to the day of his ascension, designated along with us as a witness to his resurrection."
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beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection. ”
23 They nominated two: Joseph Barsabbas, nicknamed Justus, and Matthias.
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And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
24 Then they prayed, "You, O God, know every one of us inside and out. Make plain which of these two men you choose
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And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
25 to take the place in this ministry and leadership that Judas threw away in order to go his own way."
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to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place. ”
26 They then drew straws. Matthias won and was counted in with the eleven apostles.
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And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025