1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.5 For John baptized with "water, but in a few days you will be baptized with "the Holy Spirit."6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk "from the city.13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)16 and said, "Brothers and sisters, "the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry."18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)20 "For," said Peter, "it is written in the Book of Psalms: "'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' "and, "'May another take his place of leadership.' [^6]21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.24 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs."26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

1 ‎الكلام الاول انشأته يا ثاوفيلس عن جميع ما ابتدأ يسوع يفعله ويعلّم به2 الى اليوم الذي ارتفع فيه بعدما اوصى بالروح القدس الرسل الذين اختارهم‎.3 ‎الذين اراهم ايضا نفسه حيّا ببراهين كثيرة بعدما تألم وهو يظهر لهم اربعين يوما ويتكلم عن الامور المختصة بملكوت الله‎.4 ‎وفيما هو مجتمع معهم اوصاهم ان لا يبرحوا من اورشليم بل ينتظروا موعد الآب الذي سمعتموه مني‎.5 ‎لان يوحنا عمد بالماء واما انتم فستتعمّدون بالروح القدس ليس بعد هذه الايام بكثير‎.6 ‎اما هم المجتمعون فسألوه قائلين يا رب هل في هذا الوقت ترد الملك الى اسرائيل‎.7 ‎فقال لهم ليس لكم ان تعرفوا الازمنة والاوقات التي جعلها الآب في سلطانه‎.8 ‎لكنكم ستنالون قوة متى حل الروح القدس عليكم وتكونون لي شهودا في اورشليم وفي كل اليهودية والسامرة والى اقصى الارض9 ولما قال هذا ارتفع وهم ينظرون. واخذته سحابة عن اعينهم‎.10 ‎وفيما كانوا يشخصون الى السماء وهو منطلق اذا رجلان قد وقفا بهم بلباس ابيض11 وقالا ايها الرجال الجليليون ما بالكم واقفين تنظرون الى السماء. ان يسوع هذا الذي ارتفع عنكم الى السماء سيأتي هكذا كما رأيتموه منطلقا الى السماء‏‎.12 ‎حينئذ رجعوا الى اورشليم من الجبل الذي يدعى جبل الزيتون الذي هو بالقرب من اورشليم على سفر سبت‎.13 ‎ولما دخلوا صعدوا الى العليّة التي كانوا يقيمون فيها بطرس ويعقوب ويوحنا واندراوس وفيلبس وتوما وبرثولماوس ومتى ويعقوب بن حلفى وسمعان الغيور ويهوذا اخو يعقوب‎.14 ‎هؤلاء كلهم كانوا يواظبون بنفس واحدة على الصلاة والطلبة مع النساء ومريم ام يسوع ومع اخوته15 وفي تلك الايام قام بطرس في وسط التلاميذ. وكان عدّة اسماء معا نحو مئة وعشرين. فقال16 ايها الرجال الاخوة كان ينبغي ان يتم هذا المكتوب الذي سبق الروح القدس فقاله بفم داود عن يهوذا الذي صار دليلا للذين قبضوا على يسوع.17 اذ كان معدودا بيننا وصار له نصيب في هذه الخدمة‎.18 ‎فان هذا اقتنى حقلا من اجرة الظلم واذ سقط على وجهه انشق من الوسط فانسكبت احشاؤه كلها‎.19 ‎وصار ذلك معلوما عند جميع سكان اورشليم حتى دعي ذلك الحقل في لغتهم حقل دما اي حقل دم‎.20 ‎لانه مكتوب في سفر المزامير لتصر داره خرابا ولا يكن فيها ساكن وليأخذ وظيفته آخر‎.21 ‎فينبغي ان الرجال الذين اجتمعوا معنا كل الزمان الذي فيه دخل الينا الرب يسوع وخرج22 منذ معمودية يوحنا الى اليوم الذي ارتفع فيه عنا يصير واحدا منهم شاهدا معنا بقيامته‎.23 ‎فاقاموا اثنين يوسف الذي يدعى برسابا الملقب يوستس ومتياس‎.24 ‎وصلّوا قائلين ايها الرب العارف قلوب الجميع عيّن انت من هذين الاثنين ايا اخترته‎.25 ‎ليأخذ قرعة هذه الخدمة والرسالة التي تعداها يهوذا ليذهب الى مكانه‎.26 ‎ثم ألقوا قرعتهم فوقعت القرعة على متياس فحسب مع الاحد عشر رسولا