Prologue
(Luke 1:1–4)

1In my former treatise, I gave an account, O Theophilus, of all the actions and doctrine of Jesus, to the time of his assumption, 2after he had given the apostles he had chosen, the orders they were to execute by the holy spirit. 3to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, of which they had many proofs, during the forty days he appear'd to them, and inform'd them about the reign of the Messias:

4being with them when they were assembled, he order'd they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what the father had promis'd, which, said he, I mention'd. 5" for John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the holy ghost, not many days hence."

The Ascension
(Mark 16:19–20; Luke 24:50–53)

6Being therefore in his presence, they asked him, saying, Lord, is this the time when you will restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7and he said to them, it is not for you, to know the times or the seasons, which the father hath reserv'd in his own disposal. 8but ye shall receive the influence of the holy spirit, which will descend upon you: and ye shall be witnesses for me, in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the remotest part of the earth.

9After this discourse, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10and as they were looking stedfastly toward heaven, as he mounted up, on a sudden, two men appear'd before them robed in white, who said, 11"ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up to heaven? this same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall descend in the same manner as ye have seen him ascend thither."

Matthias Replaces Judas

12then they returned to Jerusalem, from the mountain of olives, which is a sabbath-day's journey from it. 13When they were arrived there, they went up into an upper room, where Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, Simon the Zelot, and Judas the brother of James used to resort, 14and unanimously persevere in prayer with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brethren being present.

15At that time the disciples being assembled, to the number of about an hundred and twenty, Peter rose up in the midst of them, 16and said, men and brethren, the prediction which the holy ghost made, by the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was guide to those that seiz'd Jesus, must have been accomplished. 17he was of our number, and shared in the functions of this ministry. 18but after he had purchased a field with the reward of his iniquity, he fell down, his belly burst, and all his bowels gushed out: 19a fact so generally known to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that they called the field in their tongue, Aceldema, that is to say, the field of blood.

20for it is written in the book of psalms, "let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein:" and "let another take possession of his charge."

21wherefore of those who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus convers'd among us, 22from his baptism by John, to the day of his assumption, we should chuse one to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 23accordingly they presented two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was sirnamed Justus, and Matthias, and they prayed, 24saying, "thou Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show us which of these two thou hast chosen, 25that he may be admitted to this apostolick ministry which Judas abandoned, to go to his own place." 26and having drawn lots; the lot fell upon Matthias, who was added to the eleven apostles.