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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.
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Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
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He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
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After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
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“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.”
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Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
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“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.’
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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,
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They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
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Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
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No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
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“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
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“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
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This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
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But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
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David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
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Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,
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because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.
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“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
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But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
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Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.
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Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
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“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
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The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
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Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”
