Prologue
(Luke 1:1–4)

1THE former record I made, Theophilus, of all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 2till the day on which he was taken up, after he had, through the Holy Spirit, given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3To whom, after he had suffered, he also showed himself alive, by many indubitable proofs; appearing to them for forty days, and speaking of the things that pertain to the kingdom of God.

4And calling them together, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of my Father, which, said he, you have heard from me; 5for John indeed immersed in water, but you shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit, not many days hence.

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

6Therefore, when they came together, they asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? 7But he said to them: It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has reserved under his own control. 8But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses for me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the most distant part of the earth.

9And when he had spoken these things, while they were looking on him, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they were looking earnestly to ward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white raiment, 11who also said: Men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall come in the same manner in which you saw him go into heaven.

Matthias Replaces Judas

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath-day's journey. 13And when they had come in, they went up into an upper room, in which dwelt Peter and James, and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphasus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14All these, with one mind, continued in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15And in those days Peter arose in the midst of the disciples, (the number of the names together was about a hundred and twenty,) and said: 16Brethren, it was necessary for this scripture to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit had before spoken by the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was a guide to those who took Jesus: 17for he was numbered with us, and had been appointed to this ministry. 18Therefore he purchased a field with the reward of his iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19And it was known to all that dwelt in Jerusalem, so that the field is called, in their own language, Akeldama, that is, The field of blood.

20For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no one dwell in it, and, His office let another take.

21Therefore, of these men who have associated with us during the whole time in which the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the immersion of John till the day on which he was taken up from us, must one be appointed as a witness with us of his resurrection. 23And they set apart two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias; 24and praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all, make known which of these two thou hast chosen, 25that he may be appointed to this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26And they gave in their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias: and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.