Chapter by chapter
1Jesus prepares his apostles for witness through the promised Spirit, while the gathered disciples wait, pray, and replace Judas.2The risen Jesus pours out the promised Spirit, and Peter’s proclamation leads to repentance and a shared life of faith.3A public healing becomes Peter’s witness to the risen Jesus and a call to repentance rooted in God’s covenant promises.4Acts 4 joins bold witness to the risen Jesus with united prayer and shared possessions under God’s sovereign care.5Acts 5 displays God’s authority through judgment within the church and the apostles’ witness under threats from the council.6The growing church addresses neglected widows, while Stephen’s Spirit-given ministry meets opposition that turns from debate to false accusation.7Stephen traces God’s faithfulness and Israel’s resistance, then bears witness to the exalted Jesus as his hearers kill him.8Acts 8 follows the spread of the good news through persecution, across old boundaries, and under God’s direction.9Jesus turns a persecutor into a witness and strengthens his people through the Spirit, healing, and restored life.10God brings Peter into a Gentile household and confirms that forgiveness through Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s gift extend across nations.11God grants Gentiles repentance and the Holy Spirit, while the growing church at Antioch takes shape through teaching and shared aid.13God sends his messengers to proclaim forgiveness through the risen Jesus, and his word spreads among Gentiles despite opposition.14God opens faith to the nations as Paul and Barnabas face violence, refuse worship, and strengthen new churches.16God directs the spread of the gospel into Macedonia, opening hearts while his servants face exploitation, violence, and imprisonment.17Acts 17 follows the proclamation of Jesus through opposition, scriptural examination, and debate, ending with resurrection and God’s coming judgment.18The Lord sustains gospel witness through opposition, shared work, and instruction that equips others to proclaim Jesus as the Christ.19The word of the Lord spreads through Ephesus, displaying Jesus’ authority and provoking resistance from those whose trade depends on idols.20Paul prepares the Ephesian elders for his departure by entrusting them to God’s grace and charging them to guard the flock.21Acts 21 follows Paul into Jerusalem, where warnings of captivity become chains despite efforts to answer rumors and preserve peace.22Paul’s defense traces how Jesus turned a persecutor into a witness whose commission to the Gentiles provokes fierce opposition.23The Lord assures Paul of testimony in Rome, while a nephew’s warning and Roman protection preserve him through a murder plot.24Paul’s defense places resurrection hope and a clear conscience before a governor whose fear, greed, and political interests delay justice.26Paul’s defense presents his witness to the risen Jesus as obedience to God and fulfillment of Israel’s promised hope.27God preserves Paul for his appearance before Caesar and saves everyone aboard through the danger and destruction of shipwreck.28Acts ends with Paul still under guard, yet teaching about Jesus without hindrance as God’s salvation reaches the nations.
Read Acts with a pen in hand.
Psalmlog builds a reading plan through Acts and turns each day's passage into an entry with one next step.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).