¹I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach ²until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.⁴While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me. ⁵For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”⁶So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”