Bible / Acts

Acts 1

World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations

1 The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, CCC

2 until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. CCC

3 To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God’s Kingdom. CCC

4 Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.

5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?” CCC

7 He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. CCC

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” CCC

9 When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. CCC

10 While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, CCC

11 who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.” CCC

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying, that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. CCC

15 In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,

16 “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. Fathers

17 For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry.

18 Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness; and falling headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines gushed out.

19 It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’

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

21 “Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” CCC

23 They put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

24 They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen

25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.”

26 They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was counted with the eleven apostles.

This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church

Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.

  1. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 126 “We can distinguish three stages in the formation of the Gospels: 1. the life and teaching of Jesus. the Church holds firmly…”
  2. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 126 “We can distinguish three stages in the formation of the Gospels: 1. the life and teaching of Jesus. the Church holds firmly…”
  3. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 659 “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right…”
  4. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 672 “Before his Ascension Christ affirmed that the hour had not yet come for the glorious establishment of the messianic kingdom awaited by…”
  5. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 672 “Before his Ascension Christ affirmed that the hour had not yet come for the glorious establishment of the messianic kingdom awaited by…”
    • CCC 673 “Since the Ascension Christ's coming in glory has been imminent, even though "it is not for you to know times or seasons…”
  6. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 672 “Before his Ascension Christ affirmed that the hour had not yet come for the glorious establishment of the messianic kingdom awaited by…”
    • CCC 730 “At last Jesus' hour arrives: he commends his spirit into the Father's hands 118 at the very moment when by his death…”
    • CCC 735 “He, then, gives us the "pledge" or "first fruits" of our inheritance: the very life of the Holy Trinity, which is to…”
    • CCC 857 “The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the apostles, in three ways: - she was and remains built on "the…”
    • CCC 1287 “This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people.…”
    • CCC 1556 “To fulfil their exalted mission, "the apostles were endowed by Christ with a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit coming upon them,…”
  7. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 659 “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right…”
    • CCC 697 “Cloud and light. These two images occur together in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. In the theophanies of the Old Testament,…”
  8. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 333 “From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When…”
  9. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 333 “From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When…”
  10. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 726 “At the end of this mission of the Spirit, Mary became the Woman, the new Eve ("mother of the living"), the mother…”
    • CCC 1310 “To receive Confirmation one must be in a state of grace. One should receive the sacrament of Penance in order to be…”
    • CCC 2617 “Mary's prayer is revealed to us at the dawning of the fullness of time. Before the incarnation of the Son of God,…”
    • CCC 2623 “On the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of the Promise was poured out on the disciples, gathered "together in one place." While…”
    • CCC 2673 “In prayer the Holy Spirit unites us to the person of the only Son, in his glorified humanity, through which and in…”
  11. Read the Fathers
    • “For he was numbered with us:”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  12. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 523 “St. John the Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare his way. "Prophet of the Most High", John…”
    • CCC 535 “Jesus' public life begins with his baptism by John in the Jordan. John preaches "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of…”
    • CCC 642 “Everything that happened during those Paschal days involves each of the apostles - and Peter in particular - in the building of…”
    • CCC 995 “To be a witness to Christ is to be a "witness to his Resurrection," to "[have eaten and drunk] with him after…”