1 Honorable Theophilus: In my previous book, I wrote the historical facts of the life of Jesus-what he did and taught-
2 right up until he left this earth and returned to heaven, just after giving directions to his ambassadors, through the Holy Spirit, for the distribution of the Remedy.
The Appearances of the Resurrected Christ
3 After his ordeal, he appeared physically, in person, to these men and provided testable evidence that he was alive. He appeared to them at different times and places over a period of forty days, and taught them about God's kingdom of love.
4 Once, when eating with them, he gave them this command: "Stay in Jerusalem until you receive the gift I told you about, the one my Father promised.
5 For John immersed you in water, but in a few days you will be immersed in the Holy Spirit."
6 When they got together, they asked him, "Lord, is now the time you are going to restore Israel to power and make it the Kingdom of God?"
7 He answered, "The specific time and date for events, which the Father holds by his omnipotence, is not necessary nor helpful for you to know.
8 When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive the power needed to accomplish your mission, and then you will reveal the truth about my kingdom of love, and take the Remedy to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the entire world."
9 After telling them this, he went up into heaven, right in front of them. They watched with their own eyes until he was hidden by a cloud.
10 As they stood there staring up into the sky, suddenly two angels dressed in white, in the form of men, appeared next to them.
11 They said, "Men of Galilee, what are you doing standing here staring off into the sky? This same Jesus, who has gone into heaven, will come back to earth in the same way you have just watched him go into heaven."
The Anticipation of the Spirit
12 So they left the Mount of Olives and returned to Jerusalem, about a half mile away.
13 Upon arriving, they returned to the upstairs room where they were staying. Those present were James, Peter, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Patriot, and Judas, son of James.
14 Along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers, they united together in conversation with God, keeping their hearts and minds connected with the Father.
The Appointment of Matthias
15 While they were together—about one hundred and twenty in all—Peter stood up
16 and said: "Brothers and sisters, what God foreknew—and long ago revealed in Scripture through David concerning Judas—had to occur. He chose to lead to Jesus those who arrested our Lord,
17 even though he was one of us and shared in distributing the Remedy."
18 Judas used his traitor's reward to buy a field, and it was there that his body fell, rupturing open, and his guts spilled onto the ground.
19 All of Jerusalem heard about this, and the field is now called, in their language, Akeldama, which means Blood Field.
20 "For it is written in the Psalms, 'Let his field be deserted; may no one live there,' and, 'May someone else replace him in leadership.'
21 "So the traitor must be replaced, and we must choose one of the men who learned to distribute the Remedy directly from the Lord Jesus, and who worked with us the entire time—
22 from John's immersion of Jesus right up until Jesus went back to heaven. One of these men must join us in witnessing to his resurrection."
23 They narrowed it down to two men: Joseph, also called Barsabbas and nicknamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 Then they asked Jesus, "Lord, you know the true condition of every person's heart. Reveal to us who you have chosen
25 to be your ambassador, taking the position Judas abandoned to go his own way."
26 They drew straws, and Matthias was chosen and became one of the Twelve.