Acts is book 5 of the 27 books of the New Testament and belongs to the Acts section. See how it fits with the rest in our guide to all 66 books of the Bible.
Quick facts
- Section
- New Testament · Acts
- Genre
- Narrative: history of the early church
- Author (traditional)
- Luke, the physician and travel companion of Paul, who also wrote the Gospel of Luke (both books are addressed to Theophilus).
- Other views on authorship
- Most scholars agree Acts and Luke share one author; many accept Luke, while others see an anonymous Christian writer of the next generation who drew on travel notes and earlier sources.
- Date (traditional)
- About AD 62, since the book ends with Paul still under house arrest in Rome and does not mention his death.
- Other views on dating
- Commonly placed around AD 80–90, though some argue for the early 60s and a few for the early 2nd century.
- Chapters
- 28
- Verses
- 1,003
- Reading time
- About 112 minutes (22,464 words in the BSB)
What is Acts about?
Acts picks up where the Gospel of Luke leaves off. The risen Jesus tells his followers they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (1:8) — and that sentence is the book's map. The Spirit comes at Pentecost, Peter preaches, thousands believe, and a community forms that shares meals, prayer and possessions.
The story widens step by step. Stephen becomes the first martyr, persecution scatters the believers, Philip takes the message to Samaria and to an Ethiopian official, and Peter learns through a vision and a Roman centurion named Cornelius that God accepts Gentiles too. Saul, a fierce opponent, meets the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and becomes Paul, the great missionary to the nations.
The second half follows Paul's journeys through Cyprus, Asia Minor and Greece, the church council in Jerusalem that settles whether Gentile believers must keep the law of Moses, and Paul's arrest, trials and dramatic voyage to Rome. The book ends abruptly, with Paul preaching openly while awaiting trial — the message has reached the capital of the world.
Outline of Acts
| ChaptersCh. | Section |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Ascension and Pentecost Jesus is taken up, Matthias replaces Judas, and the Spirit fills the believers. |
| 3–7 | The church in Jerusalem Healing at the temple, trials before the council, shared life, and the death of Stephen. |
| 8–12 | Judea, Samaria and beyond Philip's mission, Saul's conversion, Peter and Cornelius, and the church at Antioch. |
| 13–14 | Paul's first journey Paul and Barnabas preach in Cyprus and Galatia. |
| 15 | The Jerusalem council Leaders agree Gentiles are saved by grace without becoming Jews first. |
| 16–18 | Paul's second journey Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens and Corinth; the gospel enters Europe. |
| 19:1–21:16 | Paul's third journey A long stay in Ephesus, farewell to the elders, and the road back to Jerusalem. |
| 21:17–26:32 | Arrest and trials Paul is seized in the temple and defends himself before crowds, governors and King Agrippa. |
| 27–28 | Voyage to Rome Storm, shipwreck on Malta, and two years of preaching under house arrest. |
Key themes
- The Holy Spirit. The Spirit drives the whole story — empowering preaching, guiding decisions and opening new doors. Some call the book the Acts of the Holy Spirit rather than the Acts of the Apostles.
- Witness to the ends of the earth. The gospel moves outward in widening circles, crossing ethnic, religious and geographic lines that once seemed fixed.
- Jews and Gentiles together. Peter's vision, the council of chapter 15 and Paul's mission all wrestle with one question: how do people from every nation belong to one family of God?
- Faithfulness under pressure. Arrests, beatings, riots and shipwreck do not stop the message. Again and again opposition becomes the very means by which it spreads.
- A sharing community. The early believers pray together, eat together and care for the poor among them, giving a picture of what the church is meant to be.
Key people and places
- Peter — Leading apostle in the early chapters; preaches at Pentecost.
- Paul (Saul) — Persecutor turned missionary; central figure of chapters 13–28.
- Stephen — One of the seven helpers, the first Christian martyr.
- Philip — Evangelist in Samaria who baptizes the Ethiopian official.
- Barnabas — Encourager who vouches for Paul and travels with him.
- Cornelius — Roman centurion whose household is among the first Gentile believers.
- Lydia — Businesswoman in Philippi, first named convert in Europe.
- James — Brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church.
Places: Jerusalem, Samaria, Damascus, Antioch, Philippi, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Malta, Rome.
Key verses in Acts
Quoted from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
“Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.””
“‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’”
How Acts fits the big story
Acts is the bridge between the Gospels and the letters. It shows the promise God made to Abraham — that all nations would be blessed — beginning to come true as people from every background receive the Spirit. Pentecost reverses the scattering of Babel, and the gift of the Spirit fulfils what prophets like Joel foresaw. Most of the letters that follow, starting with Romans, were written to churches founded in these chapters, so Acts gives the setting for reading them. The twelve apostles who appear in the opening scene become the foundation of a church that is still spreading when the book closes.
How to read Acts
At 2 chapters a day you can read Acts in 14 days. Keep a map of Paul's journeys open as you read chapters 13–28. When you read a letter such as Philippians or 1 Thessalonians, turn back to the chapter in Acts where that church was founded.