Acts of the Apostles

An academic orientation to the Acts of the Apostles, exploring Luke's second volume, the geographical mandate of the gospel, and the divine sovereignty orchestrating the church's expansion.

Jesus instructs his disciples during forty post-resurrection days, commissions them as witnesses, ascends into heaven, and the apostolic community gathers in prayer to appoint Matthias.

The promised Holy Spirit falls on the Day of Pentecost with wind and fire, Peter proclaims the risen Christ from the Hebrew Scriptures, 3,000 are baptized, and the early church models radical community.

Peter and John heal a lame man at the Temple Beautiful Gate in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, prompting an astonished crowd to gather at Solomon's Portico where Peter proclaims the Author of Life.

Peter and John are arrested by the temple authorities, testify boldly before the Sanhedrin, the believers pray until the place shakes, and the community shares all possessions with one heart.

Ananias and Sapphira face divine judgment for deceit, miraculous healings flourish at Solomon's Colonnade, the apostles are miraculously released from prison, and Gamaliel counsels the Sanhedrin.

Cultural tensions between Hebraic and Hellenistic Jewish believers lead to the appointment of the Seven deacons, freeing the apostles for prayer and preaching, and introducing Stephen.

Stephen reviews Israel's history before the Sanhedrin, indicts the leadership for resisting the Holy Spirit, beholds the Son of Man standing at God's right hand, and dies forgiving his persecutors.

Persecution scatters the church, Philip preaches Christ with power in Samaria, Peter confronts Simon Magus, and the Spirit directs an evangelistic encounter with an Ethiopian court official.

The resurrected Christ confronts Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, Ananias ministers restoration, Saul preaches in Damascus and Jerusalem, and Peter raises Tabitha from the dead in Joppa.

God directs Cornelius and Peter through visions, breaking dietary taboos, leading Peter to Caesarea where the Holy Spirit falls on Gentile believers in a historic breakthrough.

Peter defends his fellowship with Gentiles before the Jerusalem church, the gospel explodes among Greeks in Antioch, Barnabas retrieves Saul from Tarsus, and disciples are first called Christians.

Herod Agrippa executes James, Peter is imprisoned and delivered by an angel in response to earnest church prayer, and Herod suffers sudden divine judgment for his arrogance.

The Holy Spirit commissions Barnabas and Saul from Antioch, they confront Elymas the sorcerer in Cyprus, and Paul preaches Christ's resurrection in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch.

Paul and Barnabas face opposition in Iconium, are mistaken for Greek gods in Lystra, Paul survives stoning, and the apostles strengthen disciples and appoint elders in every church.

The early church confronts its greatest theological crisis: whether Gentile converts must observe Mosaic circumcision. Peter, Barnabas, Paul, and James defend salvation by grace alone through faith.

The Holy Spirit directs Paul into Europe through the Macedonian vision. In Philippi, the gospel transforms Lydia the businesswoman, delivers a possessed slave girl, and saves a Roman jailer.

Paul turns the world upside down in Thessalonica, discovers noble Scripture searchers in Berea, and delivers his iconic cultural apologetic on the Areopagus in philosophical Athens.

Paul ministers in corrupt Corinth supported by tentmaking alongside Priscilla and Aquila. Gallio's historic ruling protects Christian freedom, and Apollos is mentored into fuller gospel truth.

Paul establishes an apostolic beachhead in Ephesus for three years. Extraordinary miracles shatter occult strongholds, magic scrolls are burned, and a furious riot erupts in the great theater over Artemis.

Paul ministers through Macedonia and Greece, raises young Eutychus at Troas during a midnight service, and delivers his deeply emotional farewell charge to the Ephesian elders at Miletus.

Paul journeys resolutely toward Jerusalem despite urgent prophetic warnings, meets with James and the elders, and is violently attacked in the temple before being rescued and arrested by Roman soldiers.

Paul delivers a passionate defense in the Aramaic language from the steps of the Antonia Fortress, recounting his rabbinic pedigree, Damascus encounter, and Gentile commission, before invoking his Roman citizenship.

Paul divides the Sanhedrin over the resurrection, receives a nocturnal promise from the Lord that he must testify in Rome, survives an assassination plot, and is escorted under heavy military guard to Caesarea.

High Priest Ananias and lawyer Tertullus prosecute Paul before Governor Felix. Paul vigorously refutes their slander, proclaims the resurrection, and trembles corrupt Felix with discourses on righteousness and coming judgment.

Governor Festus replaces Felix. Refusing Festus's proposal to be judged in Jerusalem by a biased court, Paul invokes his supreme legal prerogative as a Roman citizen: 'I appeal to Caesar!' King Agrippa II arrives to hear him.

Paul delivers his rhetorical masterpiece before King Agrippa II and Bernice, recounting his heavenly vision on the Damascus road, answering Festus's charge of madness, and boldly calling the king to Christian faith.

Paul embarks on the perilous sea voyage to Rome. Caught in the catastrophic Mediterranean tempest Euroclydon, all hope is lost until an angel assures Paul of survival, leading to a dramatic rescue at Malta.

Shipwrecked on Malta, Paul shakes off a deadly viper unharmed and heals the islanders. Arriving in Rome, Paul gathers the Jewish leaders, announces salvation to the Gentiles, and proclaims the kingdom unhindered.