The Good Story Continues 1
1
THE STORY CONTINUES
1 O most honored Friend of Creator (Theophilus), I have already told you the story of Creator Sets Free (Jesus), about the many things he did and taught among the people 2from his birth until the day he returned to the spirit-world above. 3After he had suffered by being put to death on the cross, he returned to life and then appeared to his message bearers, giving them many proofs that he was truly alive again.
FORTY DAYS OF INSTRUCTION
For forty days he continued to appear to them, and through the Holy Spirit he instructed them further about Creator’s good road. 4Once, during a meal with his followers, he said to them, “Wait here in the Sacred Village of Peace (Jerusalem), for the gift from my Father that I already told you about—the Holy Spirit. 5He Shows Goodwill (John) performed the purification ceremony#1:5 Baptism with water, but not many days from now, you will participate in the purification ceremony with the Holy Spirit.”
They were all full of wonder about what was taking place. Was this the beginning of the new world the prophets of old had promised to the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel)?
6They crowded around Creator Sets Free (Jesus). “Wisdomkeeper,” they asked him, “will you now give the good road back to the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel)?
7“Times and seasons are in the Father’s hands,” he answered. “These things are not for you to know. 8Instead, set your hearts and minds on the Holy Spirit, who will give you strong medicine when he comes. You will then tell my story in Village of Peace (Jerusalem), in all the Land of Promise (Judea) and High Place (Samaria), and then to the farthest parts of the earth—to all languages, tribes, and nations.”
9As he spoke these words, he was taken up and went into a cloud where they could no longer see him.
His followers bowed down to honor him, and then, full of wonder and awe, they stood there looking up into the sky.
10As they watched him go up into the spirit-world above, two men appeared before them in pure white garments.
11“Men of Circle of Nations (Galilee)!” they said. “Why are you looking up into the sky? This same Creator Sets Free (Jesus), whom you saw going up into the spirit-world above, will return in the same manner you have seen him go.”
THE UPPER ROOM
12Village of Peace (Jerusalem) was nearby, about as far as one is permitted to walk on a Day of Resting. 13So the followers of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) walked down Olive Mountain and returned to the village and to the place where they were staying, at a lodging house in an upstairs room.
Here are the names of some of the followers of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) who were gathering together to pray:
Stands on the Rock (Peter), He Shows Goodwill (John), He Takes Over (James), Stands with Courage (Andrew), Friend of Horses (Philip), Looks Like His Brother (Thomas), Son of Ground Digger (Bartholomew), Gift from Creator (Matthew), He Takes Charge (James) son of First to Change (Alphaeus), One Who Listens (Simon) the Firebrand (Zealot), and Speaks Well Of (Judas),#1:13 John 14:22 the son of He Takes Hold (James).
14Bitter Tears (Mary), the mother of Creator Sets Free (Jesus), was there along with some of his brothers. Also many of the honored women were welcomed among them. They were all gathering together, night and day, to send their voices to the Great Spirit.
15This group had grown into one big family, about a hundred and twenty of them, who all trusted in Creator Sets Free (Jesus), that he was the Chosen One.
A NEW MESSAGE BEARER CHOSEN
There were now only eleven message bearers. Speaks Well Of (Judas), the one who betrayed Creator Sets Free (Jesus), was no longer among them. Since Creator Sets Free (Jesus) chose twelve message bearers to represent the twelve tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel), # 1:15 Matthew 12:28 someone had to be chosen to replace him.
So during this time Stands on the Rock (Peter) stood up to speak.
16“Friends and family,” he said to all, “Much Loved One (David), guided by the Holy Spirit, foretold in the Sacred Teachings the things that found their full meaning in Speaks Well Of (Judas), who betrayed Creator Sets Free (Jesus) into the hands of the ones who arrested him.
17“From the first, Speaks Well Of (Judas) was one of the twelve chosen to walk with us as one of his followers.
18“After he betrayed Creator Sets Free (Jesus), he used the blood money he was paid to buy a field. There he hung himself on a tree.#1:18 Matthew 27:5 His body fell to the ground and broke open, spilling out his insides. 19News about this spread throughout Village of Peace (Jerusalem), and so that place became known in our native language as Akeldama, meaning Field of Blood.”
20 Stands on the Rock (Peter) continued, “This gives full meaning to the words of the Sacred Book of Songs (Psalms), ‘Let his land become deserted, a place where no one will live.’#1:20 Psalm 69:25 It also says, ‘Let another take his place in the council.’#1:20 Psalm 109:8
21“We must now choose another to replace Speaks Well Of (Judas). He must be one who was with us the whole time while we were walking the road with our Wisdomkeeper, 22from the time he participated in the purification ceremony#1:22 Baptism with He Shows Goodwill (John) until the day Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was taken up from us to the spirit-world above. Then, along with us, he will be able to tell what his own eyes have seen, about the rising from the dead of Creator Sets Free (Jesus).”
THE COUNCIL OF TWELVE IS RESTORED
23Two men were selected who met the requirements: He Adds More (Joseph), who was called Son of Resting (Barsabbas), also known as Stands Upright (Justus), and Gifted From Creator (Matthias).
24They stood the men before the council and prayed over them, “O Great Chief, Knower of Hearts, show to us the one you have chosen 25to be your message bearer in the place of Speaks Well Of (Judas), who left the path given him and chose his own path.”
26They decided to choose by drawing straws. The straw was in favor of Gifted From Creator (Matthias), and so he was added to the eleven message bearers to form a council of twelve—representing the twelve tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel).
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