Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost 

    The Apostles did not travel about the country preaching the Word of God until after the descent of the Holy 

Spirit at Pentecost. Instead, they remained in Jerusalem and devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 1:14). Blessed 

Anne Catherine tells us that, during the days following the Ascension of Christ to Heaven, the Apostles stayed 

in the same building where the Last Supper was held.  On the  following days I saw the Apostles always 

together and the Blessed Virgin with them in the house of the Last Supper. 

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 The  upper room  mentioned 

by Acts as the place where the Apostles gathered (Acts 1:13) was the same upper room mentioned in the 

Gospel of Luke as the place of the Last Supper (Lk 22:12). This place was called the Cenacle, a word meaning 

 a small dining room, usually on an upper floor. 

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     And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias . And they 

cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.  (Acts 1:23,26). 

    Matthias became one of the Twelve Apostles, replacing Judas Iscariot. Matthias was with the Apostles and 

disciples from the beginning of Jesus' Ministry, from the baptism of John to the Ascension (Acts 1:21 22). Yet, 

during all that time, no one but Jesus knew that Matthias was to be one of the Twelve Apostles. He was 

among the Apostles as one of many other disciples, with no authority or distinction given to him until his 

appointment as an Apostle, which occurred between the Ascension and Pentecost. 

    According to Blessed Anne Catherine, it was Peter who suggested Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias as the 

two candidates to replace Judas Iscariot. Neither of these two men had ever considered becoming one of the 

Twelve. Some of the other disciples had entertained such a desire, but none of these were chosen.

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    Blessed Anne Catherine also tells us that Peter put forward Barsabbas and Matthias as the two candidates 

on one day, but they waited until the following day to cast lots to decide between the two. In Sacred Scripture, 

the verse telling us which two were put forward as candidates (Acts 1:23) is followed by two verses saying that 

the Apostles and disciples prayed for God to reveal to them whom God had chosen to be an Apostle (Acts 

1:24 25). Then the next verse describes the casting of lots to choose Matthias (Acts 1:26). In this way, Sacred 

Scripture indicates a period of prayer between the choosing of the two candidates and the choice of Matthias 

as one of the Twelve. 

    The length of that period of prayer is not stated, for Sacred Scripture does not always tell us on which days 

various events occurred. The absence of words indicating a change from one day to the next does not 

necessarily mean that the events being described all happened on the same day. In the same way, when a series 

of parables from the teaching of Christ are placed one after the other in Sacred Scripture, we should not 

assume that those parables were all taught on the same day. 

    Notice that Joseph had two other names: Barsabbas and Justus. These were not his last or middle names; 

they were nicknames. The name `Justus' means `just' or `one who is just.' This Josephus was  not only 

considered to be a just man, but had a reputation for being just which resulted in his being called `Justus.' The 

name `Barsabbas' means `son of the Sabbath.' The word `bar' in Hebrew means `son,' as in `bar mitzvah,' 

meaning `son of the commandments,' and  Simon Bar Jona,  meaning `Simon son of John' (cf. Mt 16:17 to 

John 21:15). The word `sabbas' is merely an alternate spelling for the word Sabbath. Josephus was called `son 

of the Sabbath,' most likely because he kept the Sabbath strictly and devoutly. And perhaps there was also 

some other connection between this Joseph and the Sabbath (or possibly the Sabbatical year). 

    Now this Joseph was well known to be a just man who kept the Sabbath devoutly, so well known that he 

was given the surnames of Justus and Barsabbas. Yet God chose the other just and devout man, Matthias, who 

was not so well known, to be the Twelfth Apostle. They chose Matthias by lot. But if they had decided 

between the two by voting, Joseph would likely have won the election, since he was more well known as a 

disciple of Christ. 

Pentecost 

     When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came 

from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there 

appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with 

the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  (Acts 2:1 4). 

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