Purpose of Writing
1   The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2   Until the day in which he was taken up, after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3   To whom also he 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:

Wait for Power to Witness
4   And, being assembled together with them, commanded  them  that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, you have heard of me.
5   For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
6   When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7   And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power.
8  But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Jesus Ascends and Will Return
9   And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10   And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11   Who also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.

Prayer in the Upper Room
12   Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
13   And when they were come in, they went up into  an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son  of  Alphaeus,  and  Simon  the  Zealot,  and Judas the brother of James.
14   These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
15   And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about a hundred and twenty,)
16   Men and brethren, this  scripture  must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus.
17   For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18   Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his insides gushed out.
19   And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem;  since  that  field  is  called  in  their proper  tongue, Akeldama,  that  is  to  say,  The field of blood.
20   For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his office let another take.
21   Therefore of these men who have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22   Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23   And  they appointed  two,  Joseph  called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24   And they prayed, and said, You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which of these two you have chosen,
25   That he may take part in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26   And they cast their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.