Pentecost and the Early Church

The Holy Spirit drives the mission of the Church

This stage presents the visible birth of the Church after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The disciples, gathered in prayer with Mary, receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and begin to proclaim publicly Christ crucified and risen.

Pentecost manifests that the work of Christ continues in the Church through the action of the Holy Spirit. Fear is transformed into courage, the scattering of languages finds a new response, and the Christian community is born around the teaching of the apostles, communion, the breaking of the bread, and prayer.

You will learn to

Situate Pentecost within the promise of the risen Christ.

Recognize the Holy Spirit as the gift of the Risen One.

Understand the relationship between the Passover, the Ascension, and Pentecost.

Identify Peter's discourse as the first great apostolic proclamation.

Recognize the call to conversion and to baptism.

Understand the features of the first Christian community.

Identify the breaking of the bread, the apostolic teaching, and prayer.

Recognize the beginning of the apostolic mission.

Understand Pentecost in relation to Babel.

Discover that the Church is born to proclaim Christ to all peoples.

How this stage is organized

Main narrative

Acts 1–5

You will come to know the Ascension of Jesus, the prayerful waiting of the disciples, the choosing of Matthias, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter's discourse, the conversion and baptism of the first believers, the life of the first community, the healing of the paralyzed man at the temple, and the courageous testimony of the apostles before the authorities.

Doctrinal understanding

Holy Spirit · Church · Baptism · Mission

You will grasp that the Church is born from the Passover of Christ and from the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gathers, gives life, and sends. Baptism introduces us into the new life of Christ and into the community. The apostolic mission is born from the power of the Risen One, who makes the disciples into witnesses.

Scripture in depth

Prophets · Psalms · The promise of the Spirit

Other biblical texts help us understand Pentecost. Joel announces the outpouring of the Spirit. Ezekiel speaks of a new heart and a new spirit. Psalm 104 contemplates the Spirit who renews creation. The account of Babel lets us see Pentecost as God's response to the scattering of languages and of peoples.

Fulfilled in Christ

The apostolic Church · Sacraments · Testimony

The risen Christ sends the Holy Spirit and gathers His Church. The apostolic community proclaims Christ, celebrates the breaking of the bread, baptizes, and lives fraternal communion. At Pentecost, the Passover is prolonged in the Church: what Christ accomplished in His death and resurrection begins to be communicated to all peoples through the apostolic testimony.

Choose a mode

Path mode

Move step by step, in the recommended order.

Review mode

Shuffled questions to review and gauge your progress.

Group mode

A moderated session, reserved for catechists and teachers.