Prologue
(Luke 1:1–4)

1In the former treatise (Deare frende Theophilus) I have written of all that Iesus beganne to do and teache 2vntyll the daye in the which he was taken vp after that he thorowe the holy goost had geven commaundementes vnto the Apostles which he had chosen: 3to whom also he shewed him selfe alyve after his passion by many tokens apperynge vnto them fourty dayes and speakynge of the kyngdome of god

4and gaddered them togeder and commaunded the that they shuld not departe from Ierusalem: but to wayte for ye promys of the father whereof ye have herde of me. 5For Iohn baptised wt water: but ye shalbe baptised with the holy goost and that with in this feawe dayes.

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

6When they were come togeder they axed of him sayinge: Lorde wilt thou at this tyme restore agayne ye kyngdome to Israel? 7And he sayde vnto them: It is not for you to knowe the tymes or the seasons which ye father hath put in his awne power: 8but ye shall receave power of the holy goost which shall come on you. And ye shall be witnesses vnto me in Ierusalem and in all Iewrye and in Samary and even vnto the worldes ende.

9And when he had spoken these thinges whyll they behelde he was take vp and a cloude receaved him vp out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly vp to heaven as he went beholde two men stode by them in white apparell 11which also sayde: ye men of Galile why stonde ye gasinge vp into heave? This same Iesus which is taken vp fro you in to heaven shall so come even as ye haue sene him goo into heaven.

Matthias Replaces Judas

12Then returned they vnto Ierusalem from mount olivete which is nye to Ierusalem coteyninge a Saboth dayes iorney. 13And when they were come in they went vp into a parler where abode both Peter and Iames Iohn and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartlemew and Mathew Iames the sonne of Alpheus and Simo Zelotes and Iudas Iames sonne. 14These all cotinued with one acorde in prayer and supplicacion with the wemen and Mary the mother of Iesu and with his brethren.

15And in those dayes Peter stode vp in the myddes of the disciples and sayde (the noumbre of names that were to gether were aboute an hondred and twenty) 16Ye men and brethren this scripture must have nedes ben fulfilled which the holy goost thorow ye mouth of David spake before of Iudas which was gyde to them that tooke Iesus. 17For he was noubred with vs and had obtayned fellouship in this ministracion. 18And the same hath now possessed a plot of grounde with the rewarde of iniquite and when he was hanged brast a sondre in ye myddes and all his bowels gusshed oute. 19And it is knowe vnto all the inhabiters of Ierusalem: in so moche that that felde is called in their mother tonge Acheldama that is to saye the bloud felde.

20It is written in the boke of Psalmes: His habitacio be voyde and no man be dwellinge therin: and his bisshoprycke let another take.

21Wherfore of these me which have copanyed with vs all ye tyme that the Lorde Iesus wet in and out amonge vs 22begynninge at the baptyme of Iohn vnto that same daye that he was taken vp from vs must one be ordeyned to be are witnes with vs of his resurreccion. 23And they appoynted two Ioseph called Barsabas (whose syr name was Iustus) and Mathias. 24And they prayed sayinge: thou Lorde which knowest the hertes of all me shewe whether of these two thou hast chosen 25that the one maye take the roume of this ministracion and apostleshippe from the which Iudas by transgression fell that he myght go to his awne place. 26And they gave forthe their lottes and the lot fell on Mathias and he was counted with the eleven Apostles.