Acts 28: Paul on Malta and in Rome
Acts 28 recounts Paul's escape to Malta, where he is unharmed by a viper and heals many, then his journey to Rome, where he lives under guard and proclaims God's Kingdom to Jewish leaders and others. The chapter closes with Paul teaching boldly for two years, while some believe and some reject the message.
Paul's Voyage and Shipwreck in Acts 27
Acts 27 recounts Paul's sea voyage to Italy as a prisoner, the violent storm that drives the ship off course, and the eventual shipwreck on an island. Throughout, Paul receives divine assurance that all aboard will survive, and his calm leadership contrasts with the panic of sailors and soldiers.
Acts 26: Paul's Defense Before Agrippa and Festus
Acts 26 records Paul's defense before King Agrippa, where he tells his life story, his persecution of Christians, his dramatic conversion, and his commission to preach to Gentiles. Festus interrupts, calling Paul insane, and Agrippa asks if Paul is trying to convert him, but they agree Paul has done nothing deserving death.
Acts 25: Paul Appeals to Caesar Before Festus and Agrippa
Acts 25 recounts Paul's trial before the new governor Festus, where the Jewish leaders again accuse him and plot to kill him. Paul appeals to Caesar, and Festus later presents the case to King Agrippa, setting the stage for Paul's defense.
Paul's Defense Before Felix in Acts 24
Acts 24 recounts Paul's trial before Governor Felix, where he refutes the charges of the high priest and elders, and later shares the gospel with Felix and his wife Drusilla. Felix, hoping for a bribe, keeps Paul in custody for two years until Festus succeeds him.
Acts 23: Paul Before Council and Plot Foiled
Acts 23 records Paul's defense before the Jewish council, where he divides the Pharisees and Sadducees over the resurrection. It also tells how a plot to kill Paul is uncovered and he is sent under guard to Governor Felix in Caesarea.
Acts 22: Paul's Defense and Roman Citizenship
Acts 22 records Paul's speech to a Jerusalem crowd, where he defends himself by recounting his Jewish upbringing, his persecution of the church, his dramatic conversion on the Damascus road, and his commission to the Gentiles. The crowd erupts when he mentions the Gentiles, and Paul is saved from scourging by revealing his Roman citizenship.
Acts 21: Paul's Journey to Jerusalem and Arrest
Acts 21 recounts Paul's journey to Jerusalem, where he is warned by disciples and a prophet about impending suffering. Despite pleas to turn back, he proceeds, is warmly received by the church, participates in a purification ritual, and is then seized by a mob in the temple and rescued by Roman soldiers.
Acts 19: Paul in Ephesus: Spirit, Magic, and Riot
Acts 19 follows Paul in Ephesus, where he encounters disciples of John, teaches boldly, and sees the Holy Spirit come on twelve men. It also recounts the burning of magic books and a riot stirred by silversmiths whose trade in Artemis shrines was threatened.
Acts 18: Paul in Corinth and Apollos in Ephesus
Acts 18 follows Paul to Corinth, where he works as a tentmaker, reasons in the synagogue, and receives a vision from the Lord promising protection and many people in the city. The chapter also introduces Apollos, an eloquent Alexandrian who teaches accurately about Jesus but knows only John's baptism, and is corrected by Priscilla and Aquila.
Acts 17: Paul in Thessalonica, Beroea, and Athens
Acts 17 follows Paul from Thessalonica to Beroea and then to Athens, where he reasons with Jews, Greeks, and philosophers. He proclaims the risen Christ, and in Athens he uses an altar to an unknown God to announce the Creator who commands repentance.
Acts 16: Timothy, Lydia, and the Philippian Jailer
Acts 16 follows Paul and his companions as they strengthen churches, are redirected by the Holy Spirit to Macedonia, and see conversions in Philippi. It records the baptism of Lydia, the exorcism of a slave girl, and the imprisonment and release of Paul and Silas after an earthquake.
Acts 15: The Jerusalem Council on Gentile Salvation
Acts 15 describes a dispute in Antioch over whether Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. The apostles and elders meet in Jerusalem, hear testimonies, and decide that salvation is through grace, sending a letter to Gentile believers.
Acts 14: Paul and Barnabas in Iconium and Lystra
Acts 14 follows Paul and Barnabas as they preach in Iconium, flee to Lystra and Derbe, heal a crippled man, and are mistaken for gods. After Paul is stoned and left for dead, he rises and they return to strengthen the disciples and appoint elders.
Acts 13: Paul and Barnabas Sent to the Gentiles
Acts 13 records the Holy Spirit setting apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work, their journey to Cyprus and Pisidia, and Paul's sermon in the synagogue at Antioch. It ends with the gospel being rejected by many Jews but received gladly by Gentiles, while the disciples remain filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 12: Peter Freed, Herod Judged
Acts 12 recounts Herod's persecution of the church, including the death of James and the imprisonment of Peter, who is miraculously freed by an angel. It also describes Herod's prideful speech and sudden death, concluding with the growth of God's word.
Acts 11: Peter's Defense and Antioch Church
Acts 11 records Peter defending his fellowship with Gentiles, the Jerusalem church accepting God's gift to them, and the gospel spreading to Antioch where disciples are first called Christians. It also shows the church sending relief to Judea during a famine.
Acts 10: Peter and Cornelius: God Shows No Favoritism
Acts 10 recounts how God prepared both a Gentile centurion named Cornelius and the apostle Peter for a pivotal meeting. Through a vision and the Spirit's direction, Peter learns that God shows no favoritism, and the Holy Spirit falls on Gentiles, confirming their acceptance.
Acts 9: Saul's Conversion and Peter's Miracles
Acts 9 recounts Saul's dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, his baptism by Ananias, and his subsequent preaching. It also describes Peter healing Aeneas and raising Dorcas from the dead, leading many to believe in the Lord.
Acts 8: Persecution, Samaria, and the Ethiopian Official
Acts 8 recounts the persecution that scattered the Jerusalem assembly, Philip's preaching in Samaria and to an Ethiopian official, and the apostles' response to Samaria's reception of the word. It highlights the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem and the importance of a right heart before God.