Bible / Acts
Acts 2
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: 1 CCC
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming: and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire: and it sat upon every one of them. CCC
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. CCC
5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue.
7 And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans?
8 And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome,
11 Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. CCC
12 And they were all astonished, and wondered, saying one to another: What meaneth this?
13 But others mocking, said: These men are full of new wine.
14 But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you and with your ears receive my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day:
16 But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel:
17 And it shall come to pass, in the last days, (saith the Lord), I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. CCC
18 And upon my servants indeed and upon my handmaids will I pour out in those days of my spirit: and they shall prophesy. CCC
19 And I will shew wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire, and vapour of smoke. CCC
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord shall come. CCC
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. CCC
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him, in the midst of you, as you also know: CCC · Fathers
23 This same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain. CCC
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it. CCC · Fathers
25 For David saith concerning him: I foresaw the Lord before my face: because he is at my right hand, that I may not be moved.
26 For this my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope. CCC
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. CCC
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life: thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Ye men, brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David: that he died and was buried; and his sepulchre is with us to this present day.
30 Whereas therefore he was a prophet and knew that God hath sworn to him with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins one should sit upon his throne. Fathers
31 Foreseeing this, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ. For neither was he left in hell: neither did his flesh see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised again, whereof all we are witnesses.
33 Being exalted therefore by the right hand of God and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this which you see and hear. CCC
34 For David ascended not into heaven; but he himself said: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou on my right hand, CCC
35 Until I make thy enemies thy footstool. CCC
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know most certainly that God hath made both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus, whom you have crucified. CCC
37 Now when they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles: What shall we do, men and brethren? CCC · Fathers
38 But Peter said to them: Do penance: and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 2 CCC · Fathers
39 For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation.
41 They therefore that received his word were baptized: and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. CCC · Fathers
42 And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles and in the communication of the breaking of bread and in prayers. 3 CCC
43 And fear came upon every soul. Many wonders also and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem: and there was great fear in all. CCC
44 And all they that believed were together and had all things common. CCC
45 Their possessions and goods they sold and divided them to all, according as every one had need. CCC
46 And continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart: CCC
47 Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved. CCC
Where our lessons quote this chapter
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.
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- CCC 696 “Fire. While water signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the…”
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- CCC 696 “Fire. While water signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the…”
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- 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.…”
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- CCC 715 “The prophetic texts that directly concern the sending of the Holy Spirit are oracles by which God speaks to the heart of…”
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- CCC 715 “The prophetic texts that directly concern the sending of the Holy Spirit are oracles by which God speaks to the heart of…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 715 “The prophetic texts that directly concern the sending of the Holy Spirit are oracles by which God speaks to the heart of…”
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- CCC 715 “The prophetic texts that directly concern the sending of the Holy Spirit are oracles by which God speaks to the heart of…”
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- CCC 432 “The name "Jesus" signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son, made man for the…”
- CCC 715 “The prophetic texts that directly concern the sending of the Holy Spirit are oracles by which God speaks to the heart of…”
- CCC 2666 “But the one name that contains everything is the one that the Son of God received in his incarnation: JESUS. the divine…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 547 “Jesus accompanies his words with many "mighty works and wonders and signs", which manifest that the kingdom is present in him and…”
“… my right hand, lest I should be moved: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also, my flesh shall rest in hope: because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou give Thy Holy One to see corruption.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 633 “Scripture calls the abode of the dead, to which the dead Christ went down, "hell" - Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in…”
- CCC 648 “Christ's Resurrection is an object of faith in that it is a transcendent intervention of God himself in creation and history. In…”
“… of your faith, spoken of in days long gone by, endureth even until now, and bringeth forth fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sins suffered even unto death, [but] "whom God raised from the dead, having loosed the bands of the grave.”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter I. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 627 “Christ's death was a real death in that it put an end to his earthly human existence. But because of the union…”
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- CCC 627 “Christ's death was a real death in that it put an end to his earthly human existence. But because of the union…”
Read the Fathers
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- 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 731 “On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover is fulfilled in the…”
- CCC 788 “When his visible presence was taken from them, Jesus did not leave his disciples orphans. He promised to remain with them until…”
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- CCC 447 “Jesus ascribes this title to himself in a veiled way when he disputes with the Pharisees about the meaning of Psalm 110,…”
- CCC 449 “By attributing to Jesus the divine title "Lord", the first confessions of the Church's faith affirm from the beginning that the power,…”
- CCC 731 “On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover is fulfilled in the…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 447 “Jesus ascribes this title to himself in a veiled way when he disputes with the Pharisees about the meaning of Psalm 110,…”
- CCC 449 “By attributing to Jesus the divine title "Lord", the first confessions of the Church's faith affirm from the beginning that the power,…”
- CCC 731 “On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover is fulfilled in the…”
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- CCC 440 “Jesus accepted Peter's profession of faith, which acknowledged him to be the Messiah, by announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of…”
- CCC 447 “Jesus ascribes this title to himself in a veiled way when he disputes with the Pharisees about the meaning of Psalm 110,…”
- CCC 449 “By attributing to Jesus the divine title "Lord", the first confessions of the Church's faith affirm from the beginning that the power,…”
- CCC 597 “The historical complexity of Jesus' trial is apparent in the Gospel accounts. the personal sin of the participants (Judas, the Sanhedrin, Pilate)…”
- CCC 695 “Anointing. the symbolism of anointing with oil also signifies the Holy Spirit, to the point of becoming a synonym for the Holy…”
- CCC 731 “On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover is fulfilled in the…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1433 “Since Easter, the Holy Spirit has proved "the world wrong about sin," i.e., proved that the world has not believed in him…”
“… both Lord and Christ." And when the multitudes exclaimed, "What shall we do then?" Peter says to them, "Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1226 “From the very day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated and administered holy Baptism. Indeed St. Peter declares to the crowd astounded…”
- CCC 1262 “The different effects of Baptism are signified by the perceptible elements of the sacramental rite. Immersion in water symbolizes not only death…”
- 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 1427 “Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the proclamation of the kingdom: "The time is fulfilled, and the…”
- CCC 1433 “Since Easter, the Holy Spirit has proved "the world wrong about sin," i.e., proved that the world has not believed in him…”
“… both Lord and Christ." And when the multitudes exclaimed, "What shall we do then?" Peter says to them, "Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 363 “In Sacred Scripture the term "soul" often refers to human life or the entire human person. But "soul" also refers to the…”
- CCC 1226 “From the very day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated and administered holy Baptism. Indeed St. Peter declares to the crowd astounded…”
“And there were, in one day, baptized three, and four, and five thousand men.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 3 “Those who with God's help have welcomed Christ's call and freely responded to it are urged on by love of Christ 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 949 “In the primitive community of Jerusalem, the disciples "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread…”
- CCC 1329 “The Lord's Supper, because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his…”
- CCC 1342 “From the beginning the Church has been faithful to the Lord's command. of the Church of Jerusalem it is written: They devoted…”
- CCC 2178 “This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful…”
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- CCC 2178 “This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2178 “This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2178 “This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful…”
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- CCC 584 “Jesus went up to the Temple as the privileged place of encounter with God. For him, the Temple was the dwelling of…”
- CCC 1329 “The Lord's Supper, because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his…”
- CCC 1342 “From the beginning the Church has been faithful to the Lord's command. of the Church of Jerusalem it is written: They devoted…”
- CCC 2178 “This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2640 “St. Luke in his gospel often expresses wonder and praise at the marvels of Christ and in his Acts of the Apostles…”
A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.