Acts
The book of Acts begins with Jesus' ascension into heaven and the apostles' return to Jerusalem, where they prayed and chose a replacement for Judas. The Holy Spirit descended on the disciples on the day of Pentecost, and Peter preached about Jesus, resulting in the conversion of about 3,000 people. The apostles continued to perform miracles and preach about Jesus, leading to the growth of the church. However, they also faced persecution, and Stephen was stoned to death after delivering a speech about the history of Israel and the coming of Jesus. Saul, who had been persecuting the disciples, was converted on the road to Damascus and became a key figure in the spread of Christianity. The apostles, including Peter and Paul, traveled to various cities, preaching about Jesus and performing miracles, despite facing opposition and persecution. The church in Jerusalem sent a letter to the Gentile churches, stating that they did not need to be circumcised or keep the law of Moses to be saved. Paul and his companions traveled to various cities, preaching and establishing churches, and Paul was eventually arrested and put on trial, but he continued to preach about Jesus and was eventually sent to Rome, where he was allowed to live under house arrest and preach about the kingdom of God.
Chapter 1
Jesus appeared to the apostles for 40 days after his resurrection, giving them instructions and speaking about the kingdom of God. He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit, who would give them power to be witnesses for him. Jesus then ascended into heaven, and the apostles returned to Jerusalem, where they prayed and chose a replacement for Judas, Matthias, to join the eleven apostles.
Chapter 2
The day of Pentecost arrived, and the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in various languages as the Spirit gave them utterance. A crowd of devout Jews from different nations gathered, amazed that they could hear the disciples speaking in their own languages. Peter stood up and addressed the crowd, explaining that the disciples were not drunk, but rather filled with the Holy Spirit as prophesied by Joel. He then preached about Jesus, explaining that He was crucified and resurrected, and that God had made Him both Lord and Christ. The crowd was convicted, and about 3,000 people were baptized and added to the church, which continued to grow and thrive as the believers shared their possessions and worshiped together.
Chapter 3
Peter and John healed a lame man at the temple gate, and the people were amazed. Peter explained that the healing was done through the power of Jesus Christ, whom the people had denied and killed. Peter told the people that they acted in ignorance, but that they should repent and be converted so their sins could be forgiven. He also reminded them that Jesus would return to fulfill God's plan, as foretold by the prophets.
Chapter 4
The apostles Peter and John were arrested by the priests and Sadducees for preaching about Jesus and the resurrection, but many people believed their message, and the number of men grew to about 5,000. The next day, the rulers, elders, and high priests questioned Peter and John about the healing of a lame man, and Peter attributed the miracle to Jesus Christ. The rulers, unable to deny the miracle, commanded Peter and John not to speak in Jesus' name, but they refused, saying they must obey God rather than men. After being released, the apostles reported to their fellow believers, who prayed for boldness to speak God's word, and the Holy Spirit filled them, enabling them to speak with boldness and perform signs and wonders.
Chapter 5
Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a possession and lied about the price, claiming they gave the full amount to the apostles, but Peter exposed their deception and they both died. The apostles continued to perform signs and wonders, and many people were healed, but the high priest and the Sadducees had the apostles arrested and put in prison. An angel freed the apostles, who then continued to teach in the temple, and when they were brought before the council, they refused to stop teaching in the name of Jesus, citing their obligation to obey God rather than men. The council, influenced by Gamaliel's advice, decided not to kill the apostles but instead beat them and commanded them to stop teaching in Jesus' name.
Chapter 6
A dispute arose between the Grecian and Hebrew disciples over the neglect of Grecian widows, leading the apostles to appoint seven men, including Stephen, to oversee the distribution of aid. The apostles then focused on prayer and ministry, and the word of God spread, with many priests becoming obedient to the faith. Stephen performed great wonders and miracles, but was disputed by members of a synagogue, who eventually falsely accused him of blasphemy and brought him before the council.
Chapter 7
The high priest asked if the accusations against Stephen were true, and Stephen began to recount the history of the Israelites, starting with God's appearance to Abraham and His promise to give the land to Abraham's descendants. Stephen then told the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers but rose to become a leader in Egypt, and of Moses, who was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Stephen also recounted the Israelites' disobedience and idolatry in the wilderness, and how God gave them up to worship the host of heaven. He then criticized the Israelites for resisting the Holy Spirit and persecuting the prophets, and declared that they had received the law but not kept it. Stephen's speech ended with a vision of Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and he was subsequently stoned to death by the crowd.
Chapter 8
Saul consented to Stephen's death, and a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem ensued, scattering its members throughout Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. Philip preached Christ in Samaria, performing miracles and healing many, and the people were baptized. The apostles Peter and John were sent to Samaria, where they prayed for the people to receive the Holy Ghost, which they did after the apostles laid hands on them. Simon, a sorcerer, attempted to buy the power to give the Holy Ghost, but was rebuked by Peter. Philip was then instructed by an angel to go to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, where he met an Ethiopian eunuch and preached Jesus to him, baptizing him in a nearby water.
Chapter 9
Saul, who had been persecuting the disciples of the Lord, was traveling to Damascus when he was confronted by a light from heaven and heard the voice of Jesus, who told him to stop persecuting Him. Saul, now blinded, was led to Damascus where he met Ananias, who healed his sight and baptized him. Saul then began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, but the Jews plotted to kill him, and he was forced to escape. He later joined the disciples in Jerusalem, where he was accepted by Barnabas and the apostles, and continued to preach boldly about Jesus.
Chapter 10
Cornelius, a devout centurion, received a vision from an angel to send for Peter, who was then in Joppa. Meanwhile, Peter had a vision in which he was told to eat unclean animals, but he refused, and a voice told him not to call anything God had cleansed unclean. The men sent by Cornelius arrived, and Peter went with them to Caesarea, where he met Cornelius and his household. Peter preached to them about Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles, who then received baptism.
Chapter 11
Peter explained to the Jerusalem church how he received a vision from God, instructing him to preach to the Gentiles, and how the Holy Spirit fell on them just as it had on the apostles. The church accepted Peter's explanation and recognized that God had granted repentance to the Gentiles. Meanwhile, other disciples preached to the Gentiles in Antioch, and a great number believed, leading the Jerusalem church to send Barnabas to investigate. Barnabas found the church in Antioch to be thriving and brought Saul to join them, and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Chapter 12
Herod had James, the brother of John, killed with a sword and then arrested Peter, intending to bring him before the people after the Passover. However, an angel of the Lord freed Peter from prison, and he escaped to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. The next day, Herod had the prison guards executed for their failure to keep Peter, and he later died after being struck by an angel for not giving God the glory. Meanwhile, the word of God continued to grow and multiply.
Chapter 13
The Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific work, and they were sent out by the church in Antioch. They traveled to Cyprus, preaching the word of God in the synagogues, and encountered a sorcerer named Elymas who opposed them, but was struck blind by Paul. The deputy, Sergius Paulus, believed after witnessing this event. Paul and his companions continued their journey, preaching in various cities, including Antioch in Pisidia, where Paul delivered a sermon about the history of Israel and the coming of Jesus as the Savior. The Gentiles were receptive to the message, but the Jews were filled with envy and opposed Paul and Barnabas, leading to persecution and their expulsion from the city.
Chapter 14
Paul and Barnabas preached in Iconium, resulting in many Jews and Greeks believing, but also stirring up opposition from unbelieving Jews. The apostles fled to Lystra and Derbe, where Paul healed a crippled man, leading the people to mistakenly worship them as gods. The apostles corrected the people and preached about the living God, but were later stoned by Jews from Antioch and Iconium, with Paul surviving and continuing to preach. After confirming the faith of the disciples in various cities, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, where they reported on their missionary work and the opening of the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Chapter 15
Certain men from Judaea taught that Gentiles must be circumcised to be saved, causing dissension among the brethren. Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders, who ultimately decided that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised or keep the law of Moses to be saved. Instead, they were to abstain from idolatry, fornication, and certain foods. The decision was written in a letter and sent to the Gentile churches with Judas and Silas, who also exhorted and confirmed the brethren. After delivering the letter, Paul and Barnabas continued teaching and preaching, but later disagreed on whether to take John Mark with them on a new journey, resulting in them parting ways.
Chapter 16
Paul and his companions traveled to Derbe and Lystra, where they met a disciple named Timothy, whom Paul circumcised due to the local Jewish population. They delivered decrees from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to the churches they visited, establishing and growing the faith. The Holy Spirit guided them to Macedonia, where they preached the gospel and met a woman named Lydia, who was baptized along with her household. In Philippi, Paul and Silas encountered a possessed girl, cast out the spirit, and were subsequently arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. However, an earthquake opened the prison doors, and the jailer, fearing for his life, asked Paul and Silas how to be saved. They preached to him and his household, and he was baptized. The magistrates, learning that Paul and Silas were Romans, apologized and asked them to leave the city.
Chapter 17
Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica, where some believed, but the Jews who did not believe stirred up a riot and Paul and Silas were sent to Berea. In Berea, they preached and many believed, but the Jews from Thessalonica followed them and Paul was sent to Athens. In Athens, Paul preached to the Jews and philosophers, who took him to the Areopagus to explain his teachings. Paul preached about the one true God, who is not confined to temples or idols, and called the people to repentance, citing the resurrection of Jesus as proof of God's power. Some mocked, but others believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris.
Chapter 18
Paul left Athens and went to Corinth, where he met Aquila and Priscilla, and worked with them as a tentmaker. He reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue every Sabbath, but when they opposed him, he turned to the Gentiles. Many Corinthians believed and were baptized, including Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue. Paul continued to teach in Corinth for a year and a half, despite being brought before the deputy Gallio, who refused to judge the matter. Paul eventually left Corinth and sailed to Ephesus, where he left Aquila and Priscilla, and then traveled to Caesarea, Antioch, and the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples. Meanwhile, Apollos, an eloquent Jew, came to Ephesus and was instructed by Aquila and Priscilla in the way of God, and he helped the disciples in Achaia.
Chapter 19
Paul found certain disciples in Ephesus who had not received the Holy Ghost, so he baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus and laid his hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Paul then spent three months in the synagogue, disputing and persuading the people about the kingdom of God, and later spent two years teaching in the school of Tyrannus, resulting in the word of the Lord Jesus spreading throughout Asia. Some Jews attempted to exorcise evil spirits in the name of Jesus, but were unsuccessful and were overcome by the spirits. Many people in Ephesus then turned to the Lord and burned their books of magic, and the word of God grew and prevailed. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made shrines for Diana, stirred up a riot against Paul, but the townclerk appeased the crowd and dismissed the assembly.
Chapter 20
Paul traveled through Macedonia and Greece, preaching and exhorting the disciples, and then spent three months in Greece. He sailed to Troas, where he preached to the disciples on the first day of the week, and a young man named Eutychus fell from a window and was revived by Paul. Paul then sailed to Miletus, where he met with the elders of the church from Ephesus and told them of his impending journey to Jerusalem, warning them of the dangers he would face and the challenges they would face after his departure. He exhorted the elders to watch over the flock and to be mindful of the wolves that would enter in among them, and then commended them to God and the word of his grace.
Chapter 21
Paul and his companions traveled to Jerusalem, despite warnings from disciples and a prophet named Agabus that he would face danger there. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Paul met with James and the elders, who asked him to participate in a purification ritual to demonstrate his respect for Jewish customs. Paul agreed, but was soon recognized by Asian Jews in the temple, who accused him of teaching against the law and the temple, and stirred up a mob against him. The Roman chief captain intervened, binding Paul with chains and taking him into custody, but Paul was allowed to speak to the crowd in Hebrew.
Chapter 22
Paul defends himself before the crowd, explaining his Jewish upbringing and education under Gamaliel, as well as his former persecution of Christians. He recounts his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, where he encountered Jesus and was instructed to go to Damascus to receive further guidance. Paul then shares his experience with Ananias, who restored his sight and told him he would be a witness for Jesus. After returning to Jerusalem, Paul received a vision from the Lord to leave the city, as the people would not receive his testimony. The crowd becomes enraged and demands Paul's death, but the chief captain intervenes and discovers that Paul is a Roman citizen, which leads to a change in his treatment.
Chapter 23
Paul stood before the council and declared his innocence, but was struck on the mouth by order of the high priest Ananias. Paul responded by rebuking Ananias, and a division arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, with the Pharisees defending Paul. The chief captain intervened, fearing for Paul's safety, and had him taken to the castle. The Lord appeared to Paul that night, assuring him that he would testify in Rome. A plot by over 40 Jews to kill Paul was discovered by his nephew, who informed the chief captain, who then sent Paul to Caesarea under heavy guard to be judged by Governor Felix.
Chapter 24
The high priest Ananias, along with the elders and the orator Tertullus, accused Paul before Governor Felix, claiming he was a troublemaker and a ringleader of the Nazarenes who had profaned the temple. Paul defended himself, stating he had done nothing wrong and that his accusers had no proof of their claims. Felix, familiar with the Christian way, deferred judgment until the chief captain Lysias arrived, and in the meantime allowed Paul to have some freedom. Felix later had Paul speak to him about the Christian faith, but despite being moved by Paul's words, he did not release him, hoping for a bribe.
Chapter 25
Festus, the new governor, went to Jerusalem and was asked by the high priest and Jewish leaders to bring Paul to Jerusalem to be judged, but Festus refused and instead invited them to come to Caesarea to accuse Paul. When they arrived, they made many accusations against Paul, but he denied any wrongdoing and appealed to be judged by Caesar. Festus conferred with his council and agreed to send Paul to Caesar. Later, King Agrippa and Bernice visited Festus, who explained Paul's case to them, and Agrippa expressed a desire to hear Paul for himself.
Chapter 26
Paul defends himself before King Agrippa, explaining his background as a Pharisee and his persecution of Christians, but then describes his conversion experience on the road to Damascus where he encountered Jesus. Paul shares his commission from Jesus to spread the gospel to the Gentiles and his subsequent ministry, which led to his arrest by the Jews. Festus interrupts, accusing Paul of madness, but Paul insists he is speaking truth and asks King Agrippa if he believes the prophets, to which Agrippa responds that Paul almost persuades him to become a Christian. Ultimately, Agrippa and Festus agree that Paul is innocent but cannot release him since he has appealed to Caesar.
Chapter 27
Paul, along with other prisoners, was placed under the care of a centurion named Julius, who was sailing to Italy. They set sail, but encountered strong winds and were blown off course, eventually being shipwrecked on an island. Despite Paul's warnings, the crew had ignored his advice, but he reassured them that no lives would be lost, as an angel of God had told him that he would stand before Caesar. The crew and passengers eventually made it to shore, with some swimming and others using boards or broken pieces of the ship.
Chapter 28
Paul and his companions were shipwrecked on the island of Melita, where they received kindness from the native people. Paul was bitten by a venomous snake but suffered no harm, leading the islanders to initially think he was a god. Paul healed the father of Publius, the island's chief man, and others who were sick, earning their respect. After three months, Paul and his companions sailed to Rome, where Paul was allowed to live under house arrest with a soldier. Paul met with the Jewish leaders in Rome, explaining his situation and preaching about Jesus, but they were divided in their response. Paul then spent two years in his own rented house, preaching about the kingdom of God and teaching about Jesus without hindrance.
Share this book