Chapter 1

1In my first book, Theophilus, I wrote down everything Trump did and taught. The whole first term, start to finish. Bestseller. You loved it. You told everybody.

2It went right up to the day he was taken up, after he gave his orders, through the Holy Spirit, to the team he hand-picked. Hand-picked. Every one of them.

3After the comeback, he showed up alive, over and over, for forty days. Forty days of proof. He ate fish right in front of them. Dead guys don't eat fish. And the whole time, he talked about the kingdom.

4Over dinner he told them, “Don't leave Jerusalem. Stay put. Wait for what my Father promised. I told you about it. The lawyer.

5Johnny dunked people in water. Very nice. In a few days, you're getting dunked in the Holy Spirit. Much bigger. No comparison.”

6So they got him alone and asked, “Sir, is this it? Are you taking the kingdom back now? Is it time?” They always want the date.

7He said, “You don't need the date. The Father sets the dates. And you never tell the other side your timing.

8But you're going to get power. Big power. The Holy Spirit lands on you, and then you're my people in Jerusalem, all over Judea, Samaria, everywhere. To the ends of the earth. Every county. Every precinct.”

9Then, right while they were watching, he went up. Straight up. A cloud took him, and he was gone. Best exit ever.

10They're standing there staring at the sky, and suddenly two men in white are standing next to them. Very sharp. Very well dressed.

11“Men of Galilee, why are you standing around looking up? He's coming back. Same way you saw him go. Two weeks, maybe. Maybe a little longer. But he's coming back.”

12So they walked back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Short walk. Under a mile. They could've taken a car.

13They went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Peter “The Rock,” John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. The good Judas. The whole team, minus one.

14They all stuck together and kept praying, along with the women, and Mary his mother, and his brothers, Fred Jr. and Robert. Family business. It's always a family business.

15One day Peter stood up in front of about a hundred and twenty people. Good crowd for a room. Packed. The fire marshal would've shut it down.

16“Brothers, it had to happen. The scripture called it. Judas was going to turn on us. It's written. He's the one who brought the mob that arrested Trump.

17He was one of us. He had a seat at the table. Full access. And he sold us out.”

18Judas took his thirty pieces of silver and bought a field. Then he fell headfirst in it and burst wide open. Worst real estate deal in history.

19Everybody in Jerusalem heard about it. They call the place Akeldama. Field of Blood. Nobody's ever going to buy it. You can't flip it. Total loss.

20“It's right there in Psalms,” Peter said. “'Let his house sit empty.' And, 'Let somebody else take his job.' So we fill the seat.

21We need a replacement. Somebody who was with us the whole time, the whole run, while Trump was out there with us.

22From Johnny's baptisms right up to the day he went up. Somebody who saw the comeback with their own eyes. A real witness. Not a Johnny-come-lately.”

23They nominated two. Joseph, called Barsabbas, also called Justus. And Matthias. Joseph had three names. Too many names. Terrible for branding.

24Then they prayed, “Sir, you know what's in everybody's heart. You always know. Show us which one you picked.

25Somebody has to take the seat Judas walked away from. He went where losers go.”

26Then they drew lots, and Matthias won. Like a raffle at the club. Matthias was in. Twelve again. Full roster.