Acts

The sequel to Luke. After Jesus ascends, the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost, and the message about Jesus spreads from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and on to Rome, first through Peter and then through Paul.

Author

Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke

Written

About AD 62 to 80

Chapters

1. 1Acts 1The risen Jesus promises the Holy Spirit and says his followers will be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. He ascends, and Matthias replaces Judas.
2. 2Acts 2At Pentecost the Holy Spirit comes like wind and fire, and the disciples speak in many languages. Peter preaches, three thousand believe, and the church shares life together.
3. 3Acts 3Peter heals a lame man at the temple gate in Jesus’ name and calls the crowd to repent.
4. 4Acts 4Peter and John are arrested and boldly refuse to stop speaking about Jesus. The believers pray for boldness and share everything.
5. 5Acts 5Ananias and Sapphira lie about their gift and die. The apostles are arrested, freed by an angel, and say, “We must obey God rather than men.”
6. 6Acts 6Seven men, including Stephen, are chosen to care for widows so the apostles can focus on prayer and teaching.
7. 7Acts 7Stephen retells Israel’s history and accuses the leaders of resisting the Spirit. He is stoned, praying for his killers, while Saul watches.
8. 8Acts 8Persecution scatters the church. Philip preaches in Samaria and explains Isaiah to an Ethiopian official, who is baptised.
9. 9Acts 9The risen Jesus stops Saul on the road to Damascus. Ananias welcomes him, and Saul begins preaching that Jesus is the Son of God.
10. 10Acts 10God sends Peter to the home of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. The Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles: God shows no favouritism.
11. 11Acts 11Peter explains to the church in Jerusalem, and they praise God. In Antioch the believers are first called Christians.
12. 12Acts 12Herod kills James and imprisons Peter. The church prays, and an angel leads Peter out of prison.
13. 13Acts 13The Spirit sends Barnabas and Saul (now Paul) on their first missionary journey to Cyprus and Galatia.
14. 14Acts 14Paul and Barnabas preach in Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. In Lystra they are mistaken for gods, then Paul is stoned.
15. 15Acts 15The Jerusalem council agrees that Gentile believers do not need to be circumcised: we are saved by grace. Paul and Barnabas part ways.
16. 16Acts 16Paul and Silas travel to Philippi, where Lydia believes. Imprisoned, they sing at midnight, an earthquake strikes, and the jailer and his family believe.
17. 17Acts 17Paul preaches in Thessalonica and Berea, then speaks to philosophers in Athens about the “unknown god”.
18. 18Acts 18In Corinth, Paul works with Priscilla and Aquila and stays eighteen months. Apollos preaches boldly.
19. 19Acts 19In Ephesus, Paul teaches for two years. People burn their books of magic, and a riot breaks out among the silversmiths.
20. 20Acts 20Paul travels through Macedonia. In Troas he raises Eutychus. He says farewell to the Ephesian elders, knowing hardship awaits in Jerusalem.
21. 21Acts 21Paul goes to Jerusalem despite warnings. He is attacked in the temple and arrested by Roman soldiers.
22. 22Acts 22Paul tells the crowd his story of meeting Jesus, and reveals he is a Roman citizen.
23. 23Acts 23Paul defends himself before the Jewish council. A plot to kill him is uncovered, and he is moved to Caesarea.
24. 24Acts 24Paul defends himself before Governor Felix, who keeps him in prison for two years.
25. 25Acts 25Before Governor Festus, Paul appeals to Caesar.
26. 26Acts 26Paul tells his story to King Agrippa, who says, “Do you think you can persuade me to be a Christian so quickly?”
27. 27Acts 27Paul sails for Rome. A violent storm leads to shipwreck, but everyone survives, as God promised.
28. 28Acts 28On Malta, Paul survives a snakebite and heals the sick. He reaches Rome and, under house arrest, preaches the kingdom of God boldly and without hindrance.