Acts 1
Open in the reader1In my first book, O Beloved-of-God, I wrote about all that He-Who-Is-Saves began to do and to teach,
2until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Devoted Spirit to the emissaries He had chosen.
3After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
4And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Foundation-of-Peace, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.
5For He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Devoted Spirit.”
6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to He-Strives-with-God?”
7He-Who-Is-Saves replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.
8But you will receive power when the Devoted Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Foundation-of-Peace, and in all Land-of-the-Praised and Watch-Mountain, and to the ends of the earth.”
9After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
10They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11“Men of The-Circuit,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same He-Who-Is-Saves, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
12Then they returned to Foundation-of-Peace from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Rest day’s journey away.
13When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Stone and He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor, Heel-Grabber and Manly, Horse-Lover and Twin, Son-of-the-Plowman and Gift-of-He-Who-Is, Heel-Grabber son of Successor, Heard the Zealot, and Judas son of Heel-Grabber.
14With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Bitter the mother of He-Who-Is-Saves, and with His brothers.
15In those days Stone stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said,
16“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Devoted Spirit foretold through the mouth of Beloved concerning Praised, who became a guide for those who arrested He-Who-Is-Saves.
17He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”
18(Now with the reward for his wickedness Praised bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.
19This became known to all who lived in Foundation-of-Peace, so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20“For 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 position.’
21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord He-Who-Is-Saves went in and out among us,
22beginning from He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor’s baptism until the day He-Who-Is-Saves was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23So they proposed two men: Josech called Son-of-the-Sabbath (also known as Titius) and Gift-of-He-Who-Is.
24And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen
25to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Praised abandoned to go to his rightful place.”
26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Gift-of-He-Who-Is. So he was added to the eleven emissaries.