Ascension Day

Jesus had appeared off and on to the disciples for forty days. [Presumably after they had returned to Jerusalem from Galilee], he urged them to stay in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, the promise that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

They were expecting him now to function as military king and liberate Israel from Roman rule. Perhaps they expected him to judge the sinners of Israel and purify the temple. "Now," they asked, "are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

Jesus did not criticize them for misunderstanding him. Rather he said, "it's not for you to know the times and the seasons which the Father has fixed by His authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be witnesses [to my resurrection] in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

And then he was taken up and a cloud took him from sight. Two men in white robes told them that he would come again just as he left. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, where he had ascended.

For the next ten days they devoted themselves to prayer and were in one accord in the upper room where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas the son of James, Mary the mother of Jesus and Jesus' brothers, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, etc.

During that time they also cast lots to replace Judas. The requirement was that the person be somewhat who had been with them since the time of John the Baptist. Matthias was chosen.