BIBLE SUMMARY: ACTS

Book of Acts Synopsis: Statistics And Summary of Main Topics.

Book of Acts Chapter by Chapter Summary.

ACTS TOTAL CHAPTERS: 28

ACTS TOTAL VERSES: 1,007

TOTAL WORDS: 24,250

DATE WRITTEN: 61 AD

AUTHOR: Luke

ACTS THEME: 

Growth Of The Church. The Unhindered Gospel. The Spread of the Gospel: The history of the labors of the apostles and of the foundation of the Christian Church. 

MAJOR CHARACTERS:

Jesus, Spirit, Paul, Theophilus, Peter, John, King Herod, James, Ananias, Sapphira, Stephen, Philip, Barnabas, Governor Felix, Governor Festus,  King Agrippa.

BOOK OF ACTS KEY VERSES:

1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

2:4: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and begun to speak other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance.

4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

4:19-20: But Peter and John answered and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, Judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

9:3-6: As he (Saul) journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shown around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground , and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him. “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.

16:31: So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.

ACTS SUMMARY

Act was written around 63 AD. Luke was from Antioch but traveled with Paul all over Southern Europe and the Middle East. The beginning verses of Acts make it clear that Acts is a sequel of the story started in Luke and written to the same man named Theophilus, generally a title ascribed to high-ranking Roman officials. In the first volume, Luke informs us all that Jesus began to do and teach. In this second volume, Luke tells how some of Jesus followers continued to spread the good news of what Jesus did and taught. Jesus appearances to the apostles for forty days after the crucifixion. Then, Jesus rose into the sky into a cloud.

 Another disciple, Matthias, was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. It describes the power that was given to a preferred number of men by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to advance the Gospel. Acts record the establishment and activities of the first-century church. It depicts the struggles and problems that they faced as well as the solutions to overcome the difficulties. As the church expands geographically two great surprises appear. The first is that the good news of Jesus is not just for Jews. The second surprise occurs in one of the most significant transformations of all time, Saul the persecutor becomes Paul the preacher. Paul becomes Jesus messenger to the Gentiles. The rest of the book deals with Pauls missionary journeys and a trip to Rome.

CHAPTER WISE SUMMARY:

Chapter#1. Commission and Ascension. Jesus returns to heaven. Believers gather together, choose another apostle leader
Chapter#2. Pentecost. The Spirit comes and the church is created. Believers speak in tongues. Peter preaches Jesus, listeners repent
Chapter#3. Lame Man Healed. Peter’s Sermon In Solomon’s Portico.
Chapter#4. The First Persecution. The church grows in number and in sharing. Peter & John imprisoned, accused by Jewish leaders. Speak in their defense
Chapter#5. Ananias and Sapphira. Ananias & Sapphira lie to God and die. Apostles imprisoned, set free by an angel.
Chapter#6. The First Deacons. The disciples chose seven men to distribute food. Stephen Arrested
Chapter#7. Stephen and Martyrdom. The Patriarchs In Egypt. Stephen is stoned for preaching about Jesus.
Chapter#8. Philip and the Eunuch. Philip converts a proselyte from Ethiopia. Saul Attempts To Destroy The Church. Saul Persecutes The Church.
Chapter#9. Saul’s Conversion on the Damascus Road. Saul, going towards Damascus, is stricken down to the earth, and led blindly to Damascus. Ananias converts a persecutor named Saul.
Chapter#10. Peter and Cornelius. Peter converts a Gentile named Cornelius.
Chapter#11. Peter Vindicates Ministry to the Gentiles. Peter defends his activity among the Gentiles.
Chapter#12. Peter in Prison. James is executed and Peter is imprisoned. King Herod persecutes the Christians, kills James, and imprisons Peter; whom an angel delivers upon the prayers of the church.
Chapter#13. 1st Missionary Journey. Barnabas and Paul start on a mission trip. Barnabas And Saul Sent Out From Antioch. Paul preaches at Antioch that Jesus is Christ. Jews accuse him of blasphemy, after which they turn to the Gentiles, of whom many believe.
Chapter#14. 1st Missionary Journey. Preaching In Iconium and Lystra. Paul And Barnabas Return To Antioch In Syria
Chapter#15. Jerusalem Council. The church holds a conference regarding Gentile conversions.
Chapter#16. 2nd Missionary Journey. Paul and Silas travel to Achaia.
Chapter#17. 2nd Missionary Journey. Paul preaches in Athens.
Chapter#18. 2nd Missionary Journey. Paul and his companions teach in Corinth.
Chapter#19. 3rd Missionary Journey. Paul and his companions teach in Ephesus.
Chapter#20. 3rd Missionary Journey. Paul and his companions return to Asia Minor.
Chapter#21. Paul Arrives at Jerusalem. Paul returns to Jerusalem and is arrested.
Chapter#22. Paul’s Defense Before the Multitudes. Paul defends himself to the mob. Paul’s Call To Preach To The Gentiles
Chapter#23. Defense Before Sanhedrin. Paul defends himself to the Sanhedrin. A Conspiracy To Kill Paul
Chapter#24. Before Felix. Paul defends himself to Governor Felix.
Chapter#25. Before Festus. Paul defends himself to Governor Festus. Festus clears him of charges that may lead to the death penalty.
Chapter#26. Before King Agrippa. Paul defends himself to King Agrippa. Agrippa is almost inclined to be a Christian. The whole company pronounces him innocent.
Chapter#27. Shipwreck. Paul travels to Rome to appear before Caesar. Paul foretells of the danger of the voyage.
Chapter#28. Rome. Paul arrives in Rome to wait for Caesar. Ministry In Malta.