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 18
1After these things he departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.
2And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them;
3and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought, for by their trade they were tentmakers.
4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
7And he departed thence, and went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
8And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
9And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace:
10for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee: for I have much people in this city.
11And he dwelt there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat,
13saying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
14But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villany, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
15but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; I am not minded to be a judge of these matters.
16And he drove them from the judgment-seat.
17And they all laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment-seat. And Gallio cared for none of these things.
18And Paul, having tarried after this yet many days, took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila: having shorn his head in Cenchreae; for he had a vow.
19And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20And when they asked him to abide a longer time, he consented not;
21but taking his leave of them, and saying, I will return again unto you if God will, he set sail from Ephesus.
22And when he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and saluted the church, and went down to Antioch.
23And having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
24Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures.
25This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John:
26and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately.
27And when he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him: and when he was come, he helped them much that had believed through grace;
28for he powerfully confuted the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
