Acts  ◦   Chapter 1

1Honorable Theophilus: In my previous book, I wrote the historical facts of the life of Jesus-what he did and taught-2right 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.3After 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.4Once, 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.5For John immersed you in water, but in a few days you will be immersed in the Holy Spirit."

6When 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?"

7He answered, "The specific time and date for events, which the Father holds by his omnipotence, is not necessary nor helpful for you to know.8When 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."

9After 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.

10As they stood there staring up into the sky, suddenly two angels dressed in white, in the form of men, appeared next to them.11They 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."

12So they left the Mount of Olives and returned to Jerusalem, about a half mile away.13Upon 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.14Along 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.

15While they were together — about one hundred and twenty in all — Peter stood up16and 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,17even though he was one of us and shared in distributing the Remedy."

18Judas 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.19All 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 — 22from 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."

23They narrowed it down to two men: Joseph, also called Barsabbas and nicknamed Justus, and Matthias.24Then they asked Jesus, "Lord, you know the true condition of every person's heart. Reveal to us who you have chosen25to be your ambassador, taking the position Judas abandoned to go his own way."26They drew straws, and Matthias was chosen and became one of the Twelve.