Acts and the Early Church
Trace the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome, from Pentecost and the first believers through Paul's journeys, trials, and arrival as a prisoner.
28 chapters · read each one, then take its quiz
Sign in to start this plan and track your progress.
Sign in to start- 1Acts 1: The Ascension and Matthias Chosen
The risen Jesus tells the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit and promises they will be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. He ascends into heaven, and the believers pray together and choose Matthias to replace Judas.
- 2Acts 2: The Spirit Comes at Pentecost
The Holy Spirit comes on the believers at Pentecost, and they speak in other languages. Peter preaches that the crucified Jesus has been raised and made Lord and Christ, about three thousand repent and are baptized, and the new church devotes itself to fellowship.
- 3Acts 3: Healing at the Beautiful Gate
Peter and John heal a man lame from birth at the temple gate in the name of Jesus. Peter tells the astonished crowd that they killed the Author of life, whom God raised, and calls them to repent so their sins may be blotted out.
- 4Acts 4: Boldness Before the Council
Peter and John are arrested and questioned, and Peter declares that salvation is found in no one but Jesus. Ordered to stop speaking, they refuse, the church prays for boldness, and the believers share their possessions, including Barnabas.
- 5Acts 5: Ananias and Sapphira and the Apostles Imprisoned
Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit about a gift and fall dead. The apostles heal many and are jailed, freed by an angel, and brought before the council, where they insist on obeying God rather than men. Gamaliel counsels caution, and they are flogged.
- 6Acts 6: The Seven Chosen and Stephen Seized
When the Hellenist widows are overlooked in the daily distribution, the apostles have the church choose seven men to serve so they can devote themselves to prayer and the word. Stephen, full of grace and power, is falsely accused and brought before the council.
- 7Acts 7: Stephen's Speech and Martyrdom
Stephen retells Israel's history from Abraham through Joseph, Moses, and the temple, showing the nation's pattern of resisting God's messengers. Enraged, the council stones him as he sees Jesus at God's right hand and prays for his killers, while Saul approves.
- 8Acts 8: Philip in Samaria and the Ethiopian Official
Persecution scatters the church, and Philip preaches Christ in Samaria, where many believe and receive the Spirit through the apostles. Simon the sorcerer is rebuked for trying to buy that power, and Philip explains Isaiah to an Ethiopian official and baptizes him.
- 9Acts 9: The Conversion of Saul
On the road to Damascus, the risen Jesus confronts Saul, who is blinded and then healed and baptized through Ananias. Saul preaches Jesus boldly, escapes plots on his life, and is received in Jerusalem through Barnabas. Peter heals Aeneas and raises Tabitha.
- 10Acts 10: Peter and Cornelius
An angel tells the centurion Cornelius to send for Peter, while Peter sees a vision of unclean animals declared clean. Peter preaches Christ in Cornelius' house, and the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentile listeners, who are then baptized.
- 11Acts 11: The Gospel Reaches the Gentiles
Peter explains to the Jerusalem believers how God gave the Spirit to Gentiles, and they praise God for granting repentance to them. In Antioch many Greeks believe, Barnabas brings Saul there, the disciples are first called Christians, and they send famine relief.
- 12Acts 12: Peter's Escape and Herod's Death
Herod kills James the brother of John and imprisons Peter, but the church prays and an angel leads Peter out of prison. He appears at the door of Mary's house, where Rhoda leaves him knocking. Herod accepts worship as a god and is struck down.
- 13Acts 13: The First Missionary Journey Begins
The Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Saul, who sail to Cyprus, where a sorcerer is struck blind and the proconsul believes. At Pisidian Antioch, Paul preaches Jesus as David's promised heir; the Jews oppose him, and the Gentiles appointed to eternal life believe.
- 14Acts 14: Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe
Paul and Barnabas face division in Iconium and flee. At Lystra, after they heal a lame man, the crowds try to worship them as gods, and Paul is stoned and left for dead. They strengthen the churches, appoint elders, and report back to Antioch.
- 15Acts 15: The Jerusalem Council
Some insist that Gentile believers must be circumcised, and the apostles and elders meet in Jerusalem. Peter affirms that all are saved by grace, James proposes a letter asking Gentiles to avoid certain practices, and Paul and Barnabas later part ways over John Mark.
- 16Acts 16: Lydia and the Philippian Jailer
Timothy joins Paul, and a vision of a man of Macedonia leads them to Philippi. The Lord opens Lydia's heart to believe. Paul casts a spirit out of a slave girl, and he and Silas are beaten and jailed, where an earthquake leads the jailer and his household to faith.
- 17Acts 17: Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens
In Thessalonica some believe but a mob attacks Jason's house. The Bereans examine the Scriptures daily to test Paul's message. In Athens, Paul addresses the Areopagus about the unknown god, the Creator who calls all to repent and has raised Jesus from the dead.
- 18Acts 18: Corinth and Apollos
In Corinth Paul works with Aquila and Priscilla, and the Lord assures him in a vision that he has many people in the city. Gallio dismisses the Jews' charges. Paul returns to Antioch, and Priscilla and Aquila explain God's way to Apollos more fully.
- 19Acts 19: Ephesus and the Riot
In Ephesus Paul baptizes disciples of John, who receive the Spirit, and teaches for two years. The sons of Sceva are overpowered by an evil spirit, magic books are burned, and Demetrius the silversmith stirs up a riot in defense of the goddess Artemis.
- 20Acts 20: Eutychus and Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
Paul travels through Macedonia and Greece and raises Eutychus after he falls from a window. At Miletus, Paul tells the Ephesian elders he has declared the whole counsel of God and charges them to shepherd the church Christ obtained with his own blood.
- 21Acts 21: Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem
Disciples along the way warn Paul of danger, and Agabus prophesies his binding, but Paul is ready to die for the Lord. In Jerusalem he joins in a purification rite, yet Jews from Asia stir up the crowd, and Roman soldiers rescue him from being beaten to death.
- 22Acts 22: Paul's Defense to the Crowd
Speaking in Hebrew from the barracks steps, Paul tells how he persecuted the Way until the risen Jesus met him on the Damascus road and sent him to the Gentiles. The crowd erupts at that word, and Paul avoids flogging by revealing his Roman citizenship.
- 23Acts 23: Before the Council and the Plot
Before the council, Paul divides Pharisees and Sadducees over the resurrection. The Lord tells him he will testify in Rome. When more than forty men vow to kill him, Paul's nephew warns the commander, who sends him under heavy guard to Governor Felix.
- 24Acts 24: Paul Before Felix
The lawyer Tertullus accuses Paul before Governor Felix, and Paul answers that he worships the God of his fathers and hopes in the resurrection. Felix hears him speak of righteousness, self-control, and judgment, becomes afraid, and keeps him in custody for two years.
- 25Acts 25: Paul Appeals to Caesar
The new governor Festus hears the charges against Paul, and when asked to be tried in Jerusalem, Paul appeals to Caesar. King Agrippa and Bernice arrive, and Festus arranges for Agrippa to hear Paul, since he has nothing definite to write to the emperor.
- 26Acts 26: Paul Before Agrippa
Paul tells King Agrippa of his former zeal against Jesus, his encounter on the Damascus road, and his commission to open the Gentiles' eyes. Festus calls him mad, Agrippa deflects his appeal to believe, and both agree he has done nothing deserving death.
- 27Acts 27: The Storm and Shipwreck
Paul sails for Rome as a prisoner, and a violent storm drives the ship for many days. An angel assures Paul that all aboard will survive. He encourages everyone to eat, and the ship runs aground off Malta, where all 276 people reach land safely.
- 28Acts 28: Malta and Rome
On Malta Paul survives a viper's bite and heals the sick. In Rome he lives under guard and explains the kingdom of God to the Jewish leaders, some of whom believe. Quoting Isaiah about hardened hearts, he proclaims that God's salvation now goes out to the Gentiles.