1 ¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, no farther than a Sabbath day's journey. 1 ¹³ Entering the city they went to the room upstairs where they were lodging: Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 1 ¹⁴ All these were constantly at prayer together, and with them a group of women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

1 ¹⁵ It was during this time that Peter stood up before the assembled brotherhood, about one hundred and twenty in all, and said: 1 ¹⁶ 'My friends, the prophecy in Scripture was bound to come true, which the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of David, uttered about Judas who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus. 1 ¹⁷ For he was one of our number and had his place in this ministry.' 1 ¹⁸ (This Judas, be it noted, after buying a plot of land with the price of his villainy, fell forward on the ground, and burst open, so that his entrails poured out. 1 ¹⁹ This became known to everyone in Jerusalem, and they named the property in their own language Akeldama, which means 'Blood Acre'.) 1 ^{20 [ Ps.69.25, Ps.109.8. ]} 'The text I have in mind', Peter continued, 'is in the Book of Psalms: "Let his homestead fall desolate; let there be none to inhabit it"; and again, "Let another take over his charge." 1 ²¹ Therefore one of those who bore us company all the while we had the Lord Jesus with us, coming and going, 1 ²² from John's ministry of baptism until the day when he was taken up from us—one of those must now join us as a witness to his resurrection.'
1 ²³ Two names were put forward: Joseph, who was known as Barsabbas, and bore the added name of Justus; and Matthias. 1 ²⁴ Then they prayed and said, 'Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, declare which of these two thou hast chosen 1 ²⁵ to receive this office of ministry and apostleship which Judas abandoned to go where he belonged.' 1 ²⁶ They drew lots and the lot fell on Matthias, who was then assigned a place among the twelve apostles. Some witnesses read: was then appointed a colleague of the eleven apostles.