Overview of Acts
A. Preparations for a Worldwide Witnessing Work (1:1-8)
Address to Theophilus (1:1, 2)
Jesus shows himself during 40 days and speaks about God’s Kingdom (1:3)
Jesus instructs the apostles to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promised holy spirit (1:4, 5)
Jesus answers the apostles’ question about when the kingdom will be restored to Israel (1:6, 7)
Jesus commissions the apostles to be witnesses of him to the ends of the earth (1:8)
B. From Jesus’ Ascension to the Outpouring of Holy Spirit at Pentecost 33 C.E. (1:9–2:13)
Jesus ascends to heaven, and the promise is made that he will come in the same manner (1:9-11)
The apostles gather to pray, together with Jesus’ mother and brothers (1:12-14)
Matthias chosen to replace Judas as one of the Twelve (1:15-26)
Holy spirit poured out on the disciples, who start to speak foreign languages (2:1-4)
Jews from all parts of the Roman Empire hear about the magnificent things of God (2:5-13)
C. Witnessing in Jerusalem (2:14–3:26)
Peter quotes Joel’s prophecy about the outpouring of holy spirit and Jehovah’s illustrious day (2:14-21)
Peter’s speech provides Scriptural evidence that Jesus was resurrected and was made both Lord and Christ (2:22-36)
Crowds respond to Peter’s speech; about 3,000 get baptized (2:37-41)
The disciples enjoy the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship with one another (2:42-47)
Peter heals a lame beggar at the temple gate called Beautiful (3:1-10)
Peter speaks at Solomon’s Colonnade (3:11-18)
Peter admonishes the people to repent and turn around (3:19-26)
D. Witnessing Despite Opposition (4:1–5:42)
Peter and John arrested; believers now number about 5,000 men (4:1-4)
Peter’s defense before the Sanhedrin (4:5-22)
The disciples pray for boldness to keep speaking God’s word (4:23-31)
The disciples share possessions (4:32-37)
Ananias and Sapphira put Jehovah’s spirit to the test (5:1-11)
The apostles perform many signs (5:12-16)
The apostles are imprisoned but are set free by an angel from Jehovah (5:17-21a)
The apostles again brought before the Sanhedrin (5:21b-32)
Gamaliel’s advice about not to “be found fighters against God” (5:33-40)
The apostles preach in the temple and from house to house (5:41, 42)
E. Ministry of the Word Not to Be Neglected (6:1–7:1)
F. Stephen Defends His Faith Before the Sanhedrin (7:2-60)
Reviews the era of the patriarchs (7:2-16)
Reviews Moses’ early life and leadership and Israel’s idolatry (7:17-43)
Points out that God does not live in man-made temples (7:44-50)
Accuses his opposers of resisting the holy spirit (7:51-53)
Sees Jesus and Jehovah in a vision; stoned to death by opposers (7:54-60)
G. The Witnessing Spreads to Samaria and Beyond; Saul’s Conversion (8:1–9:43)
Persecution breaks out in Jerusalem; the local congregation is dispersed (8:1-4)
Philip’s fruitful ministry in Samaria (8:5-13)
Peter and John sent to Samaria; the Samaritans receive holy spirit (8:14-17)
The former magician Simon tries to buy the free gift of holy spirit (8:18-24)
Philip sent to preach to an Ethiopian eunuch (8:25-40)
Saul travels to Damascus to persecute the disciples (9:1, 2)
In a light from heaven, Jesus reveals himself to Saul (9:3-9)
The disciple Ananias sent to help Saul (9:10-19a)
In Damascus, Saul preaches about Jesus (9:19b-25)
Saul visits Jerusalem and speaks boldly in Jesus’ name (9:26-30)
The congregation throughout the whole of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enters a period of peace (9:31)
Peter ministers in the cities of the coastal plain; heals Aeneas in Lydda (9:32-35)
Peter resurrects generous Dorcas in Joppa (9:36-43)
H. The Witnessing Reaches Uncircumcised Gentiles in Caesarea and Antioch of Syria (10:1–12:25)
Army officer Cornelius sees a vision and sends for Peter (10:1-8)
Peter’s vision of cleansed animals (10:9-16)
Peter visits Cornelius, and Cornelius tells about his vision (10:17-33)
Peter proclaims the good news to Gentiles; “God is not partial” (10:34-43)
Gentiles receive holy spirit and get baptized (10:44-48)
Peter reports to the apostles in Jerusalem (11:1-18)
Barnabas and Saul preach to Greeks in Syrian Antioch, where the disciples are first called Christians (11:19-26)
The Christian prophet Agabus foretells a famine; relief sent to the brothers in Judea (11:27-30)
King Herod kills James and imprisons Peter (12:1-5)
An angel of Jehovah sets Peter free from prison (12:6-19)
Herod struck by an angel of Jehovah (12:20-25)
I. Paul’s First Missionary Tour (13:1–14:28)
Barnabas and Saul sent out as missionaries (13:1-3)
Ministry on Cyprus; proconsul Sergius Paulus and sorcerer Elymas (13:4-12)
Paul’s speech in Antioch in Pisidia (13:13-41)
Prophetic command to turn to the nations (13:42-52)
Increase and opposition in Iconium (14:1-7)
People of Lystra think that Paul and Barnabas are gods (14:8-18)
Paul survives stoning in Lystra (14:19, 20)
Paul and Barnabas strengthen the congregations (14:21-23)
Paul and Barnabas travel back to Antioch of Syria (14:24-28)
J. The Jerusalem Meeting Regarding Circumcision (15:1-35)
The dispute in Antioch regarding circumcision brought to Jerusalem (15:1-5)
The apostles and elders in Jerusalem meet; testimonies from Peter, Paul, and Barnabas (15:6-12)
James’ proposal based on the Scriptures (15:13-21)
Letter from the governing body in Jerusalem (15:22-29)
The congregations encouraged by the letter (15:30-35)
K. Paul’s Second Missionary Tour (15:36–18:22)
Paul and Barnabas go separate ways (15:36-41)
Paul selects Timothy as a traveling companion (16:1-5)
Vision of the Macedonian man; the witnessing spreads to Europe (16:6-10)
Lydia’s conversion in Philippi (16:11-15)
Paul and Silas imprisoned in Philippi (16:16-24)
The jailer and his household baptized (16:25-34)
Paul requests an official apology (16:35-40)
Paul and Silas in Thessalonica (17:1-9)
Paul and Silas in Beroea (17:10-15)
Paul in Athens (17:16-22a)
Paul’s speech at the Areopagus (17:22b-31)
Different reactions to Paul’s speech; some become believers (17:32-34)
Paul’s ministry in Corinth (18:1-17)
Paul returns to Antioch of Syria via Ephesus (18:18-22)
L. Paul’s Third Missionary Tour (18:23–21:17)
Paul departs for Galatia and Phrygia (18:23)
Eloquent Apollos gets help from Priscilla and Aquila; travels to Achaia (18:24-28)
Paul arrives in Ephesus; some disciples rebaptized, now in Jesus’ name (19:1-7)
Paul’s teaching activities in Ephesus (19:8-10)
Jehovah’s word prevails despite demonism in Ephesus (19:11-20)
Riot in Ephesus; crowd rushes into the theater (19:21-34)
The city recorder of Ephesus quiets the crowd (19:35-41)
Paul in Macedonia and Greece (20:1-6)
Eutychus resurrected in Troas (20:7-12)
Paul leaves Troas for Miletus (20:13-16)
Paul encourages Ephesian elders to pay attention to themselves and to God’s flock (20:17-38)
En route to Jerusalem (21:1-14)
Arrival in Jerusalem (21:15-17)
M. Paul’s Imprisonment in Jerusalem (21:18–23:35)
Paul follows the elders’ counsel (21:18-26)
Riot in the temple; Romans arrest Paul (21:27-36)
Paul allowed to address the crowd (21:37-40)
Paul’s defense before the crowd; he describes his own conversion (22:1-21)
Paul takes advantage of his Roman citizenship (22:22-29)
Sanhedrin assembled (22:30)
Paul speaks before the Sanhedrin (23:1-10)
Paul strengthened by the Lord (23:11)
Conspiracy to kill Paul (23:12-22)
Roman soldiers transfer Paul to Caesarea (23:23-35)
N. Paul’s Imprisonment in Caesarea (24:1–26:32)
Accusations presented against Paul (24:1-9)
Paul’s defense before Felix (24:10-21)
Paul’s case put on hold for two years (24:22-27)
Paul’s trial before Festus; “I appeal to Caesar!” (25:1-12)
Festus consults with King Agrippa (25:13-22)
Paul’s defense before Agrippa (25:23–26:11)
In his speech before Agrippa, Paul describes his own conversion (26:12-23)
Festus’ and Agrippa’s responses (26:24-32)
O. Paul’s Journey to Rome (27:1–28:16)
P. Paul in Rome (28:17-31)