Loading...A study guide for the Acts of the Apostles, published by the [[incarnation-west-point|Episcopal Church of the Incarnation]] in West Point, Mississippi.
Overview of Acts
Written by Luke as a sequel to his Gospel, Acts describes how Jesus' followers embody His presence and message in the world. While the author was not an eyewitness initially (Luke 1:1–4), the use of "we" beginning in Acts 16:10 indicates that the author—a Greek-speaking physician—later joined Paul's mission.
Structure & Outline
Adapted from Richard J. Dillon's commentary in The New Jerome Bible Commentary:
- Introduction & Commissioning (1:1–26): Jesus' ascension and the restoration of the Twelve.
- Mission in Jerusalem (2:1–5:42): The appeal to Israel and the trials of the early Church.
- Outward Path from Jerusalem (6:1–15:35): Hellenist missions, Paul's conversion, Peter's missionary work, and the Jerusalem conference.
- Paul's Path to Rome (15:36–28:31): Paul's major missions, imprisonment, and final journey to Rome.
The programmatic focus of the book is defined in Acts 1:8: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses..."
