BIBLE BOOK GUIDE
Acts
28 chapters
The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles to establish and expand the church of Christ from Jerusalem to Rome.
Acts
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Why this book was written
Luke wrote Acts as a sequel to his Gospel, recording the history of the Spirit's outpouring, the church's birth, and the gospel's spread to Rome, proving that salvation extends from Jews to Gentiles. Addressed to Theophilus and early believers, it strengthens their faith and presents Christianity before the Roman world.
Structure
- 1–2The Spirit's Coming and the Birth of the Church
- 3–7The Growing Church in Jerusalem
- 8–12The Gospel Spreads to Samaria and the Gentiles
- 13–20Paul's Missionary Journeys
- 21–28Paul in Jerusalem, Caesarea, and on to Rome
Major themes
The Power of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit descends at Pentecost, empowers, guides, and inspires the disciples to preach the gospel throughout the book.
The Expansion of the Gospel
From Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the earth—Rome—the gospel crosses geographical and ethnic boundaries.
Salvation for Jews and Gentiles
God's promises are fulfilled for all peoples; Peter's and Paul's sermons show that salvation by faith is open to everyone.
Witness to the Risen Christ
The apostles are witnesses of Jesus' resurrection, proclaiming His death and resurrection as the heart of redemption.
The Church and Boldness under Persecution
Facing persecution, imprisonment, and opposition, the disciples preach boldly, and the church thrives.
God's Providence and Sovereignty
Despite obstacles, God's purpose prevails—Paul ultimately reaches Rome.
How it points to Christ
Though Acts does not record Jesus teaching on earth, it exalts the risen, ascended Christ throughout: He is the promised Messiah, the only way of salvation; the Spirit comes in His name; the apostles preach, heal, and forgive in His name. The book shows Christ continuing His work through the Spirit in the church, advancing His kingdom to the ends of the earth.
Key verses
- 1:8Jesus declares the Spirit's coming and the mission of witness—the book's theme verse.
- 2:1–4The Spirit descends at Pentecost; the church is born, marking a new era.
- 2:38–39Peter proclaims the promise of repentance, baptism, and the Spirit, for all.
- 4:12Salvation is found in no one else—the church's core declaration.
- 13:46–47Paul turns to the Gentiles; God's salvation reaches all peoples.
- 15:7–11The Jerusalem Council confirms Gentiles are saved by faith, not by circumcision.
- 16:31Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and your household.
- 20:28The Spirit appoints elders to shepherd the church purchased with God's own blood.
Films & series on Acts
Each has a guide: scripture sources, where it departs from the Bible, discussion questions, and where to watch

Paul, Apostle of Christ
Film · 2018
Luke risks his life to visit Paul in a Roman prison, where the apostle awaits execution under Nero. As Paul reflects on his past and the Christian community faces persecution, Luke resolves to record the story of the early church.

A.D. The Bible Continues
Series · 2015
"A.D. The Bible Continues" picks up where the smash hit miniseries "The Bible" left off, continuing the greatest story ever told and exploring the exciting and inspiring events that followed the Crucifixion of Christ. The immediate aftermath of Christ's death had a massive impact on his disciples, his mother, Mary, and key political and religious leaders of the era, completely altering the entire world in an instant. Beginning at that fateful moment of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, "A.D. The Bible Continues" will focus on the disciples who had to go forward and spread the teachings of Christ to a world dominated by political unrest, and the start of a whole new religion that would dramatically reshape the history of the world.

Peter and Paul
Series · 1981
Peter and Paul assume leadership of the Church as they struggle against violent opposition to the teachings of Christ and their own personal conflicts.
Reflections on Acts
People in this book
Questions for reflection
- ·How is the Holy Spirit's presence and power manifested in my life? Am I willing to be sent by the Lord like the apostles?
- ·What marks of the church do I see in Acts? How do they compare with today's church and my own community?
- ·When my faith faces opposition or loss, can I preach boldly in the Lord like Paul?
- ·Has the gospel broken through my 'Jerusalem'—my comfort zone—into unfamiliar groups?
- ·God exercises providence in history—do I discern His guidance and purpose in my life?
Want to read Acts start to finish? Open the reader for parallel Chinese/English text and ask anything as you go.
Start reading ActsActs
Chapter 17
1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, said he, I proclaim unto you, is the Christ.
4And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people.
6And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
7whom Jason hath received: and these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8And they troubled the multitude and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Beroea: who when they were come thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
12Many of them therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honorable estate, and of men, not a few.
13But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Beroea also, they came thither likewise, stirring up and troubling the multitudes.
14And then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul to go as far as to the sea: and Silas and Timothy abode there still.
15But they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.
16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols.
17So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him.
18And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
19And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee?
20For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
21(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)
22And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things, I perceive that ye are very religious.
23For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you.
24The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;
27that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us:
28for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.
30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:
31inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, We will hear thee concerning this yet again.
33Thus Paul went out from among them.
34But certain men clave unto him, and believed: among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
