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New Testament · History · Book 44 of 66

Acts of the Apostles

The story of the early church: the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles to carry the gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

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28 Chapters

Acts 1–28

Author

Luke the Physician

Written

c. A.D. 60 – 80

Written For

Theophilus

Summary
Title
Author
Date
Outline
Jerusalem
Beyond
Journeys
Rome
Overview

Acts of the Apostles Summary

Acts is the second volume of Luke’s work, continuing the story of his Gospel. It records how the good news about Jesus spread after His ascension, from Jerusalem to Rome, through the apostles and the early church. The book is built around Jesus’ words in 1:8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The first part follows the church in Jerusalem, from Pentecost (chapter 2) through growth, opposition and the martyrdom of Stephen. The gospel then moves into Samaria and beyond, with Philip, the conversion of Saul and Peter’s visit to the Gentile Cornelius (chapters 8–12). The rest of the book is centered on Paul, the church at Antioch, the three missionary journeys, the council at Jerusalem over what Gentile believers must do (chapter 15), and Paul’s arrest, trials and journey to Rome.

Acts ends with Paul in Rome, under guard but preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ “boldly and without hindrance” (28:30–31). It does not say how his case was decided.

About the Name

Title

The title Praxeis Apostolon, “Acts of the Apostles,” was added in the early centuries of the church and is not part of the book’s own text. The word “acts” can mean deeds or accounts. The book mainly follows the work of Peter and Paul rather than all of the apostles.

Like the Gospel of Luke, Acts is addressed to Theophilus (1:1). Many readers also describe the book as the story of the Holy Spirit’s work through the church.

Who Wrote It

Author Details

Acts does not name its author, but it is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:1–4; Acts 1:1), and early church tradition identifies him as Luke, the doctor and a companion of Paul (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11).

Parts of the book are told in the first person plural, “we” (16:10–17; 20:5–21:18; 27:1–28:16), which suggests that the author traveled with Paul during those times.

When It Was Written

Date of Writing

The date is debated, and this page gives a range of about A.D. 60–80. Acts ends with Paul spending two years under house arrest in Rome (28:30), which would be about A.D. 60–62, and some scholars date the book soon after. Others date it later, after Luke’s Gospel and after A.D. 70.

The book does not say where it was written. It tells of events from about A.D. 30 (the ascension and Pentecost) to the early 60s.

Study Guide

Acts Outline

28 chapters in six parts. Tap any section to expand it, and tap a verse reference to read it at BibleGateway.

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Part I

Witness in Jerusalem

1:1–8:3 · The birth and early growth of the church

  1. Prologue; the promise of the Holy Spirit · 1:1–5
  2. “You will be my witnesses”; Jesus is taken up · 1:6–11

Read this passage · 1:12–26

  1. The Spirit comes · 2:1–13
  2. Peter’s sermon and the response · 2:14–41

Read this passage · 2:42–47

  1. The man at the Beautiful Gate · 3:1–10
  2. Peter speaks in Solomon’s Colonnade · 3:11–26
  1. Arrest and examination · 4:1–22
  2. The believers pray for boldness · 4:23–31
  1. The believers share their possessions · 4:32–37
  2. Ananias and Sapphira · 5:1–11

Read this passage · 5:12–42

Read this passage · 6:1–7

  1. Stephen is seized · 6:8–15
  2. Stephen’s speech · 7:1–53
  3. Stephen is stoned; Saul persecutes the church · 7:54–8:3
Part II

Witness in Judea, Samaria and Beyond

8:4–12:25 · The gospel reaches Samaritans and Gentiles

Read this passage · 8:4–25

Read this passage · 8:26–40

Read this passage · 9:1–19

Read this passage · 9:20–31

Read this passage · 9:32–43

  1. Cornelius’s vision · 10:1–8
  2. Peter’s vision · 10:9–23
  3. Peter at Cornelius’s house; the Gentiles receive the Spirit · 10:24–48

Read this passage · 11:1–18

Read this passage · 11:19–30

  1. James is killed; Peter is imprisoned and freed · 12:1–19
  2. The death of Herod; the word of God spreads · 12:20–25
Part III

The First Missionary Journey

13:1–15:35 · Cyprus, Galatia and the Council at Jerusalem

Read this passage · 13:1–3

Read this passage · 13:4–12

  1. Paul’s sermon in the synagogue · 13:13–41
  2. The response of Jews and Gentiles · 13:42–52
  1. In Iconium · 14:1–7
  2. In Lystra and Derbe · 14:8–20

Read this passage · 14:21–28

  1. The question about circumcision · 15:1–5
  2. Peter, Barnabas, Paul and James speak · 15:6–21
  3. The letter to the Gentile believers · 15:22–35
Part IV

The Second Missionary Journey

15:36–18:22 · Macedonia, Athens and Corinth

Read this passage · 15:36–41

Read this passage · 16:1–5

Read this passage · 16:6–10

  1. Lydia is converted · 16:11–15
  2. Paul and Silas in prison · 16:16–24
  3. The jailer is converted; the missionaries released · 16:25–40
  1. In Thessalonica · 17:1–9
  2. In Berea · 17:10–15

Read this passage · 17:16–34

Read this passage · 18:1–17

Read this passage · 18:18–22

Part V

The Third Missionary Journey

18:23–21:16 · Ephesus and the road to Jerusalem

Read this passage · 18:23–28

  1. Paul and the disciples of John · 19:1–7
  2. Paul teaches in Ephesus · 19:8–20
  3. The riot in Ephesus · 19:21–41

Read this passage · 20:1–12

  1. The journey to Miletus · 20:13–16
  2. Paul’s farewell address · 20:17–38

Read this passage · 21:1–16

Part VI

Paul’s Arrest and Journey to Rome

21:17–28:31 · Trials, shipwreck and Rome

  1. Paul meets James and the elders · 21:17–26
  2. Paul is seized in the temple · 21:27–40
  1. Paul’s testimony · 22:1–21
  2. Paul and the Roman commander · 22:22–29
  1. Paul before the Sanhedrin · 22:30–23:11
  2. The plot against Paul; transfer to Caesarea · 23:12–35

Read this passage · 24:1–27

Read this passage · 25:1–12

  1. Festus consults Agrippa · 25:13–27
  2. Paul’s defense before Agrippa · 26:1–32
  1. Setting sail for Rome; the storm · 27:1–26
  2. The shipwreck · 27:27–44

Read this passage · 28:1–10

  1. Arrival in Rome · 28:11–16
  2. Paul preaches under guard · 28:17–31

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