1 Oma varasemas raamatus, Teofilos, ma kirjutasin kõigest, mida Jeesus hakkas tegema ja õpetama, 2 kuni selle päevani, mil ta võeti taevasse pärast seda, kui ta oma väljavalitud apostlitele oli Püha Vaimu läbi andnud korraldusi. 3 Pärast oma kannatusi näitas ta end nendele elavana ja tegi seda veenvalt. Ta ilmus neile neljakümne päeva jooksul ja kõneles Jumala Kuningriigist. 4 Ühel korral, kui ta koos nendega sõi, andis ta neile käsu: „Ärge lahkuge Jeruusalemmast, vaid oodake mu Isa tõotust, millest te olete minult kuulnud. 5 Sest Johannes ristis veega, aga mõne päeva pärast ristitakse teid Püha Vaimuga."

6 Kui nad jälle kokku tulid, küsisid nad temalt: „Issand, kas sa sel ajal taastad Iisraeli kuningriigi?" 7 Ta vastas: „Teile ei ole teada antud aegu ja ajastuid, mis Isa on oma meelevallas määranud. 8 Aga te saate Püha Vaimu väe, kes tuleb teie peale, ja peate olema minu tunnistajad Jeruusalemmas ja kõigel Juuda- ja Samaariamaal ja maailma otsani!"

9 Kui ta seda oli öelnud, võeti ta nende nähes üles ja pilv varjas ta nende silme eest. 10 Kui nad üksisilmi taevasse vaatasid tema lahkumist, ennäe, siis seisis järsku nende kõrval kaks valgeis riideis meest. 11 Nad ütlesid imestunud jüngritele: „Galilea mehed, miks te seisate ja vaatate üles taeva poole? See Jeesus, kes teilt üles võeti taevasse, tuleb samal kombel kui te nägite teda taevasse minevat!"

12 Apostlid pöördusid Õlimäelt tagasi Jeruusalemma, mis oli linnast vaid hingamispäeva teekonna*1:12 See on umbes 1 kilomeetrit. kaugusel. 13 Kui nad sinna jõudsid, läksid nad ülemisse tuppa, kus nad peatusid. Seal olid:

Peetrus, Jaakobus, Johannes, Andreas,

Filippus, Toomas,

Bartolomeus, Matteus,

Jaakobus Alfeuse poeg, seloot Siimon ja Juudas, Jaakobuse poeg.

14 Nemad kõik olid ühel meelel lakkamatus palves ja anumises. Nendega olid naisjüngrid ja Maarja, Jeesuse ema, ja tema vennad.

15 Neil päevil tõusis Peetrus usklike hulgas püsti (rahvast oli koos umbes sada kakskümmend inimest) 16 ja ütles: „Mehed-vennad, täide pidi minema kirjasõna, mis Püha Vaim on Taaveti suu läbi kõnelenud Juudase kohta, kes juhatas Jeesuse kinnivõtjaid – 17 tema oli üks meie hulgast ja valitud samasse ametisse.

18 Ta ostis ülekohtu palga eest põllu, ja kui ta pea ees alla kukkus, rebis lõhki oma kõhu ja kogu ta sisikond valgus välja. 19 Igaüks Jeruusalemmas teab, mis temaga juhtus. Sellepärast kutsutaksegi seda põldu nende keeles Hakeldamaks, see tähendab Verepõlluks.

20 Sest lauludes on kirjutatud:

„Nende telklaager saagu lagedaks:

ärgu olgu nende telkides elanikke!"

Ja samuti:

„Tema amet saagu teisele!"

21 Nõnda on tarvis valida tema asendaja nende hulgast, kes on meiega olnud kogu selle aja, mil Issand Jeesus meiega sisse ja välja kõndis, 22 alates Johannese ristimisest kuni ajani, mil Jeesus meilt võeti üles. Üks neist peab saama Jeesuse ülestõusmise tunnistajaks koos meiega."

23 Nõnda nad pakkusid välja kaks meest: Joosepi, keda kutsuti Barsabaseks (tuntud ka kui Justus), ja Mattiase. 24 Siis nad palvetasid: „Issand, sina tead iga inimese südant. Näita meile, kumma neist kahest mehest sina oled valinud 25 selleks teenistuseks, mille Juudas jättis, et minna sinna, kuhu ta kuulub." 26 Nad heitsid liisku ja liisk langes Mattiasele. Nõnda lisati ta üheteistkümne apostli hulka.

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 that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed 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: 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, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou 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 hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 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 stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 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 Zelotes, 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 brethren.

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which 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 bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, 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 bishoprick let another take. 21 Wherefore of these men which have companied 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 Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.