Book Study

The Book of Acts

Acts tells how the risen Jesus continues his work through the Holy Spirit as the gospel moves from Jerusalem to Rome. Explore the grouped articles below, or jump straight to the chapter-by-chapter commentary.

Start Here

Who Wrote the Book of Acts

The clearest starting point for reading Acts well: who Luke was, and why his authorship shapes everything that follows.

Read the Overview

Background & Themes

9 articles

Who wrote Acts, when, and why it matters: the historical setting, the major themes, and the patterns that hold the book together.

Introduction to the Book of Acts Who Wrote the Book of Acts When Was Acts Written? Historical Context of the Book of Acts How Reliable Is Acts Historically? Acts as the Second Volume of Luke Major Themes in the Book of Acts The Geography of Acts Patterns in the Book of Acts

The Speeches in Acts

17 articles

Nearly a third of Acts is speech: Peter at Pentecost, Stephen before the Sanhedrin, Paul in synagogues, before philosophers, and before kings. Each one proclaims Jesus and interprets Israel's Scripture for a different audience.

The Speeches in the Book of Acts (overview) Acts 2:14-21, Peter Interprets Pentecost Acts 3:11-26, Peter Speaks to the Onlookers Acts 4:1-22, Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin Stephen's Speech Explained (Acts 7) Acts 6:8-15, Stephen Seized Acts 7:54-60, The Stoning of Stephen Acts 9:20-31, Saul Preaches in Damascus and Jerusalem Acts 13:13-41, Paul's Sermon in Pisidian Antioch Acts 17:16-34, Paul in Athens Acts 20:13-38, Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders Acts 22:1-21, Paul's Defense Before the Crowd Acts 23:1-11, Paul Before the Sanhedrin Acts 24:10-27, Paul's Trial Before Felix Acts 25:13-27, Paul Before Festus and Agrippa Acts 26:1-23, Paul's Defense Before Agrippa Acts 28:17-31, Paul Proclaims the Kingdom of God

Only in Acts

Six things that set this book apart

Nearly a third of the book

Speeches make up close to 30% of Acts, more than any other narrative book in the New Testament.

A deliberate sequel

Acts opens by directly referencing "the first book," identifying itself as a continuation of Luke's Gospel (Acts 1:1).

Three decades in 28 chapters

The narrative spans roughly 30 years, from the ascension to Paul's imprisonment in Rome.

An ending without an ending

Acts closes with Paul under house arrest, still preaching, no account of his trial outcome or death.

The story keeps moving

The gospel travels from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, then to Asia Minor, Greece, and finally Rome.

Peter fades, Paul rises

The first half centers on Peter's leadership in Jerusalem; the narrative shifts almost entirely to Paul by the midpoint.

The Church Takes Shape

13 articles

How the earliest church actually lived: the Spirit's work, the kingdom preached, the Gentiles included, and the daily practices of baptism, hospitality, and mission.