the Third Week of Advent
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English Standard Version
Acts 1
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1 In the first book, O (a)Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began (b)to do and teach, 2 until the day when (c)he was taken up, after he (d)had given commands (e)through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 (f)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 And while staying[a] with them (g)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 for (h)John baptized with water, (i)but you will be baptized (j)with[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
The Ascension
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, (k)will you at this time (l)restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them, (m)"It is not for you to know (n)times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive (o)power (p)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and (q)you will be (r)my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and (s)Samaria, and (t)to the end of the earth." 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, (u)he was lifted up, and (v)a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, (w)two (x)men stood by them in (y)white robes, 11 and said, (z)"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, (aa)will (ab)come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then (ac)they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to (ad)the upper room, where they were staying, (ae)Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon (af)the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these (ag)with one accord (ah)were devoting themselves to prayer, together with (ai)the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and (aj)his brothers.[c]
15 In those days Peter stood up among (ak)the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 "Brothers, (al)the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, (am)who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For (an)he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in (ao)this ministry." 18 (Now this man (ap)acquired a field with (aq)the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong[d] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called (ar)in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 "For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
(as)"‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it';
and
(at)"‘Let another take his office.'
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during (au)all the time that the Lord Jesus (av)went in and out among us, 22 (aw)beginning from the baptism of John until the day when (ax)he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us (ay)a witness to his resurrection." 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called (az)Barsabbas, who was also called (ba)Justus, and (bb)Matthias. 24 And (bc)they prayed and said, "You, Lord, (bd)who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in (be)this ministry and (bf)apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
English Standard Version
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.