Outline of Acts: To the ends of the earth

The risen Lord ascends 1:1–26

Forty days of proofs and kingdom teaching, the commission to witness, the ascension, and the Twelve restored.

1. 1
   Acts 1: You will be My witnesses

   The risen Lord promises the Spirit, sends His apostles as witnesses to the world, and ascends to heaven.

   My first book 1:1–5 · You will be My witnesses 1:6–8 · Taken up 1:9–11 · With one accord in prayer 1:12–14 · Added to the eleven 1:15–26

Pentecost 2:1–47

The Spirit poured out; Peter preaches Jesus as Lord and Christ; three thousand repent, are baptized and join the church.

1. 2
   Acts 2: Both Lord and Christ

   The exalted Christ pours out the Spirit; Peter preaches Him as Lord and Christ, and three thousand believe.

   Tongues like flames of fire 2:1–4 · Each in his own language 2:5–13 · This is what was spoken by Joel 2:14–21 · God has made Him both Lord and Christ 2:22–36 · Repent and be baptized 2:37–41 · They devoted themselves 2:42–47

The word increases in Jerusalem 3:1–6:7

Healing, preaching and arrests; the church prays, shares and is purified; the seven are chosen, and the word increases.

1. 3
   Acts 3: Repent, then, and turn back

   A lame man walks in Jesus' name; Peter calls Israel to turn to God's Servant, the Prophet and Abraham's offspring.

   What I have I give you 3:1–10 · The Prince of life 3:11–16 · Repent, then 3:17–21 · The Prophet and the offspring 3:22–26

2. 4
   Acts 4: No other name under heaven

   Arrested, Peter proclaims salvation in Jesus' name alone; the church prays for boldness and shares freely.

   Put in custody 4:1–4 · No other name 4:5–12 · We cannot stop speaking 4:13–22 · Enable Your servants to speak 4:23–31 · One in heart and soul 4:32–37

3. 5
   Acts 5: We must obey God rather than men

   God judges a lie in the church, signs multiply, and the beaten apostles rejoice and keep preaching Jesus.

   Lied to the Holy Spirit 5:1–11 · Signs and wonders 5:12–16 · The doors of the jail opened 5:17–26 · Obey God rather than men 5:27–32 · Counted worthy of suffering disgrace 5:33–42

Stephen, the first martyr 6:8–8:3

Stephen answers the charges with Israel's history, sees Jesus in glory, and is stoned; Saul ravages the church.

1. 6
   Acts 6: Full of faith and of the Holy Spirit

   Seven are chosen to serve tables, freeing the apostles for the word; Stephen is seized on false charges.

   Seven men of good reputation 6:1–6 · The word of God increased 6:7 · The face of an angel 6:8–15

2. 7
   Acts 7: The Son of Man at the right hand of God

   Stephen retells Israel's story of rejected deliverers, indicts his judges, and dies seeing Jesus in glory.

   God appeared to Abraham 7:1–8 · God was with him 7:9–16 · This Moses whom they refused 7:17–36 · This is the same Moses who told the Israelites 7:37–43 · Not in temples made with hands 7:44–50 · You always resist the Holy Spirit 7:51–53 · Lord Jesus, receive my spirit 7:54–60

Philip: Samaria and the Ethiopian 8:4–40

Philip preaches Christ in Samaria, where the Spirit comes through the apostles, and to an Ethiopian from Isaiah 53.

1. 8
   Acts 8: Preaching wherever they went

   Persecution scatters the church; Philip brings Christ to Samaria and preaches Jesus to an Ethiopian from Isaiah 53.

   Scattered abroad 8:1–3 · Philip preached Christ 8:4–8 · Simon himself believed also 8:9–13 · They received the Holy Spirit 8:14–25 · He told him the good news about Jesus 8:26–35 · See, here is water 8:36–40

Saul called 9:1–31

The risen Lord turns the persecutor into His chosen instrument for the nations, and the churches have rest.

1. 9
   Acts 9: My chosen instrument

   The risen Lord turns Saul from persecutor to preacher; the churches have rest, and Peter heals and raises.

   Why do you persecute Me? 9:1–9 · A chosen instrument 9:10–19 · He preached Christ in the synagogues 9:20–25 · Barnabas took him 9:26–30 · The church enjoys peace 9:31 · Jesus Christ heals you 9:32–35 · Tabitha, get up 9:36–43

The door opened to the Gentiles 9:32–11:18

Peter heals and raises, then by God's leading preaches to Cornelius; the Spirit falls on Gentiles, and Jerusalem glorifies God.

1. 10
   Acts 10: God does not show favoritism

   God prepares Cornelius and Peter by visions; Peter preaches Christ, and the Spirit falls on Gentile hearers.

   Your prayers and gifts to the poor 10:1–8 · What God has made clean 10:9–16 · Go with them, without hesitation 10:17–23 · I am only a man myself 10:24–33 · He is Lord of all 10:34–43 · On the Gentiles also 10:44–48

2. 11
   Acts 11: Repentance that leads to life

   God grants Gentiles repentance that leads to life; at Antioch Greeks believe, and disciples are first called Christians.

   Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised 11:1–3 · What was I, that I could withstand God? 11:4–17 · Repentance that leads to life 11:18 · Preaching the Lord Jesus 11:19–21 · Called Christians first in Antioch 11:22–26 · Relief for the brothers 11:27–30

The church at Antioch 11:19–30

Greeks believe at Antioch; Barnabas and Saul teach there, the disciples are called Christians, and famine relief is sent.

Herod against the church 12:1–25

Herod kills James and jails Peter; God frees Peter and strikes Herod down, and the word grows and multiplies.

1. 12
   Acts 12: But the word of God continued to spread and multiply

   Herod kills James and jails Peter; God frees Peter while the church prays, strikes Herod, and the word grows.

   Prayer was made without ceasing 12:1–5 · His chains fell off 12:6–11 · Peter continued knocking 12:12–19 · He gave not God the glory 12:20–23 · The word of God grew and multiplied 12:24–25

The first mission 13:1–14:28

Cyprus and south Galatia: Paul preaches David's risen Son, turns to the Gentiles, and plants churches with elders.

1. 13
   Acts 13: A light for the Gentiles

   Sent out from Antioch, Paul preaches Jesus as David's risen Son; Jews refuse, and Gentiles ordained to life believe.

   Set apart Barnabas and Saul 13:1–3 · The proconsul believed 13:4–12 · Any word of exhortation 13:13–15 · From David's descendants 13:16–25 · The promise to our fathers 13:26–37 · Everyone who believes is justified 13:38–41 · We now turn to the Gentiles 13:42–52

2. 14
   Acts 14: The door of faith to the Gentiles

   Through Iconium, Lystra and Derbe the gospel advances amid suffering; elders are appointed in every church.

   The word of his grace 14:1–7 · Stand up on your feet 14:8–10 · We too are only men 14:11–18 · Having stoned Paul 14:19–20 · Elders in every church 14:21–23 · He had opened the door of faith 14:24–28

The council and its decrees 15:1–16:5

Jerusalem rules that Gentiles are saved by grace without circumcision; the decrees go out, and the churches grow.

1. 15
   Acts 15: Through the grace of the Lord Jesus

   The Jerusalem council rules that Gentiles are saved by grace through faith, without circumcision or the law's yoke.

   Unless you are circumcised 15:1–5 · Purifying their hearts by faith 15:6–11 · What God had done among the Gentiles 15:12 · The tent of David 15:13–21 · It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us 15:22–29 · They rejoiced at the encouragement 15:30–35 · They went separate ways 15:36–41

Macedonia and Achaia 16:6–18:22

Called to Macedonia, Paul plants churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and Corinth, and preaches at Athens.

1. 16
   Acts 16: Come over to Macedonia, and help us

   Called to Macedonia, Paul sees the Lord open Lydia's heart and a jailer believe with all his house.

   Established in the faith 16:1–5 · Come over to Macedonia 16:6–10 · Whose heart the Lord opened 16:11–15 · In the name of Jesus Christ 16:16–24 · What must I do to be saved? 16:25–34 · Being Romans 16:35–40

2. 17
   Acts 17: To the unknown God

   Paul preaches the risen Christ from Scripture; at Athens he proclaims the Creator who will judge by Him.

   Turned the world upside down 17:1–9 · Searched the scriptures daily 17:10–15 · Jesus, and the resurrection 17:16–21 · The God you do not know 17:22–31 · Some joined him and believed 17:32–34

3. 18
   Acts 18: I have many people in this city

   At Corinth Paul turns to the Gentiles, and the Lord assures him of many believers; Apollos receives fuller teaching.

   The same trade 18:1–4 · I will go to the Gentiles 18:5–8 · I have many people in this city 18:9–11 · Gallio cared for none of those things 18:12–17 · If God will 18:18–22 · The way of God more accurately 18:23–28

Ephesus 18:23–19:20

Apollos is taught, John's followers are pointed to Jesus, and in two years the word reaches all Asia and prevails.

1. 19
   Acts 19: The word spread and prevailed

   From Ephesus the word reaches all Asia and prevails over magic; Paul resolves to see Rome.

   John's baptism 19:1–7 · Everyone in Asia heard 19:8–10 · Jesus I know, and Paul I know 19:11–17 · The word spread and prevailed 19:18–20 · I must also see Rome 19:21–22 · Great is Artemis of the Ephesians 19:23–34 · The courts are open 19:35–41

Purposed to go to Jerusalem 19:21–20:38

Paul sets his course for Jerusalem and Rome; after the riot he revisits the churches and charges the Ephesian elders.

1. 20
   Acts 20: Be shepherds of the church of God

   Paul breaks bread with Troas on the first day and charges the Ephesian elders to shepherd the blood-bought church.

   Through Macedonia and Greece 20:1–6 · On the first day of the week 20:7–12 · Hurrying to Jerusalem for Pentecost 20:13–16 · The whole will of God 20:17–27 · Keep watch 20:28–31 · The word of his grace 20:32–35 · They would not see his face again 20:36–38

Bound in Jerusalem 21:1–23:11

Warned of bonds, Paul goes up; a mob seizes him, he tells his call, and the Lord promises he will testify at Rome.

1. 21
   Acts 21: Ready to die at Jerusalem

   Ready to die for Jesus, Paul goes up to Jerusalem; a temple mob seizes him and Rome rescues him.

   We knelt on the beach 21:1–6 · The Lord’s will be done 21:7–14 · What God had done among the Gentiles 21:15–19 · Showing respect for the law 21:20–26 · Away with him 21:27–36 · Let me speak to the people 21:37–40

2. 22
   Acts 22: Sent far away to the Gentiles

   Paul tells how the risen Jesus sent him to the Gentiles; at that word the crowd erupts.

   Zealous for God 22:1–5 · I am Jesus of Nazareth 22:6–11 · Calling on the name of the Lord 22:12–16 · I will send you far away 22:17–21 · A citizen by birth 22:22–30

Before Felix 23:12–24:27

A plot foiled, Paul is tried at Caesarea; Felix becomes afraid at judgment to come but leaves him bound two years.

1. 23
   Acts 23: You must testify in Rome

   Before the council Paul stands for the hope of resurrection; the Lord promises Rome, and a plot is foiled.

   You whitewashed wall 23:1–5 · The hope and resurrection of the dead 23:6–10 · Take courage 23:11 · An oath to kill Paul 23:12–22 · Bring him safely to Felix 23:23–35

2. 24
   Acts 24: Righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment

   Paul defends the resurrection hope before Felix, who fears judgment but leaves him imprisoned.

   Accused of starting riots 24:1–9 · Worshiping the God of my fathers 24:10–21 · Felix delays the case 24:22–23 · Felix becomes afraid 24:24–27

Before Festus and Agrippa 25:1–26:32

Paul appeals to Caesar and tells King Agrippa of his call; the rulers agree he has done nothing worthy of death.

1. 25
   Acts 25: I appeal to Caesar

   Pressed toward a Jerusalem trial, Paul appeals to Caesar; Festus lays the case before King Agrippa.

   Planning an ambush 25:1–5 · To Caesar you will go 25:6–12 · Whom Paul affirmed to be alive 25:13–22 · Nothing worthy of death 25:23–27

2. 26
   Acts 26: Obeying the heavenly vision

   Paul tells Agrippa of his call to bring Gentiles from darkness to light, and urges him to believe.

   Glad to answer before Agrippa 26:1–3 · The hope of the promise 26:4–8 · Furious persecution 26:9–11 · From darkness to light 26:12–18 · What the prophets foretold 26:19–23 · Can you persuade me? 26:24–29 · Nothing deserving death or imprisonment 26:30–32

Storm and shipwreck 27:1–28:15

Storm, shipwreck and Malta: God keeps His word, and every soul aboard is brought safe to land and on to Italy.

1. 27
   Acts 27: I believe God

   A prisoner at sea, Paul trusts God through a great storm, and all aboard reach land safely.

   Sailing for Italy 27:1–8 · A dangerous voyage 27:9–12 · Hope of survival fades 27:13–20 · Take courage 27:21–26 · He took bread, and gave thanks 27:27–38 · All safe to land 27:39–44

Rome 28:16–31

Bound for the hope of Israel, Paul preaches the kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus in Rome, Boldly and freely.

1. 28
   Acts 28: He proclaimed the kingdom of God

   Paul reaches Rome and boldly preaches the kingdom and the Lord Jesus to Jews and Gentiles.

   He shook off the beast 28:1–6 · Prayed, and laid his hands on him 28:7–10 · He thanked God, and took courage 28:11–15 · For the hope of Israel 28:16–22 · God's salvation goes to the Gentiles 28:23–29 · Boldly and freely 28:30–31