Book Reviews and More: The Acts Of The Apostles - Henry Wansbrough OSB

Friday, 9 September 2022

The Acts Of The Apostles - Henry Wansbrough OSB - CTS Scriptures

The Acts Of The Apostles

CTS Scriptures

Henry Wansbrough OSB (Introduction)

Catholic Truth Society

ISBN 9781860821844

CTS Booklet SC77

I have now read several of the volumes from the Catholic Truth Society in the CTS Scriptures Series. All of the ones I have read to date have an introduction by Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB. The ones I have read and single one I have remaining are:

The Gospel According to Mark (Introduction)

The Gospel According to Matthew (Introduction)

The Gospel According to Luke (Introduction)

The Gospel According to Luke: Gospel for the Year of Mercy

The Gospel According to John (Introduction)

The Acts of the Apostles (Introduction)

The Letters of Paul (Introduction)

The Psalms (Introduction)

I first read the four gospels, then Psalms, then the Letters of Paul and finally this volume. I have really enjoyed reading the books of the bible in these booklet formats. My son who is 14 has asked for them and has read them after I have finished. I feel like there are some volumes missing, I would love the following in the same format:

Proverbs

Revelation

The Epistles

That way you would have the whole New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in little volumes, but back to this specific volume. The description of this volume is:

“The Acts of the Apostles was penned by the same author as the Gospel of Luke. It is a gripping story of the adventures of Paul and Apostles taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

The Acts of the Apostles was penned by the same author as the Gospel of Luke. It is a gripping story which follows the adventures of Paul and the other Apostles taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. Contains the famous Pentecost narrative and the vital role of the Holy Spirit in the newly formed Church.”

First I want to call out that Dom Henry was the chief editor of the work of The Revised New Jerusalem Bible Study Edition, The introduction in this volume is taken directly from that work. At one point in the introduction it states:

“The book reads like an adventure story, with plenty of trials leading to the freeing of a hero, dangerous journeys and ordeals, escapes from prison, shipwrecks – just the stuff of the novels of the time. Yet it is serious history. Luke has done his research and makes no mistake about the complex and varied political circumstances of the Greco–Roman Empire of the eastern Mediterranean where Paul was spreading the message. Many of the details of route, distance and lodgings seem to go back to a diary or log-book kept by the travellers.”

And it ends with:

“Two widely differing forms of the text of this book have been preserved. The Western text (so called because it was used by early Christians in North Africa, such as Cyprian and Augustine) is nearly one-third longer than the Alexandrian text. In many cases it is impossible to say which text is the older, more reliable or more ‘correct’. This, however, explains why in some cases only a verse number without a text is here given, following a scholarly judgement that the text was a later addition.”

It was wonderful to read through Acts in this booklet format. It does read like an adventure story and a story we are still living out today. These are great little booklets. It is an excellent resource from the Catholic Truth Society! I just wish that proverbs and the remainder of the New Testament was available in booklets as well. It is great to pick up and read in a sitting or two and then pass on to a friend.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

Books by Henry Wansbrough OSB:

CTS Books:

36 Days & 36 Ways Daily Meditations from Advent to the Epiphany Year B

40 Days and 40 Ways Daily Meditations for Lent Year A

40 Days and 40 Ways Daily Meditations for Lent Year B

40 Days and 40 Ways Daily Meditations for Lent Year C

A Year with the Bible: 365 Daily Reflections

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: The Year of Mercy

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: Year A

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: Year B

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: Year C

Jesus: The Real Evidence