_Prado.jpg)
Now to my reader, the Lover of God,
Who, by the Lord's grace, has earnestly sought
The truth about Jesus' words and his deeds:
Still more yet remains to hear and to see.
In my first book, then, as you have perceived,
I told of all Jesus started to teach,
The wonders he did, the healings and signs,
Witnessed by those he had called to his side.
He chose his disciples, then sent them out
As apostles of the message about
The Kingdom of God, the gospel of Christ,
Which he had declared before their own eyes.
By the Holy Spirit he gave his commands,
All in accordance with the Father's plan;
And thus did I write you, as I have said,
All Jesus did up until his ascent.
Now that day's story must be told again,
For it frames all else that flows from my pen:
The promised Spirit, the calling to serve,
And the gospel sent to the ends of the earth.
After he rose, Christ remained forty days,
Showing himself to his followers' gaze,
Giving many proofs that he was alive
Even after he had suffered and died.
And during that time, he told them still more
Of the reign of God, and what lay in store:
Commanding them to remain where they were
Once they, to the city, all had returned--
They were not to depart Jerusalem,
But should wait for what the Father would send,
In fulfillment of a promise once made
At the outset of Christ's ministry days:
As water was to John the Baptizer,
So there would be a baptism of fire,
Sent forth from the reigning Christ, enthroned,
As he poured the Spirit onto his own.
And so Christ said to his followers there,
"Keep watch in the city and stay in prayer.
You all, in the Spirit, will be baptized
In just a few days; the promise is nigh!"