Contents

Series Foreword
Author’s Preface
Introduction to Acts

Part 1: Beginnings in Jerusalem, 1:1-26
Summary of the Story Thus Far, 1:1-5
Commissioning of the Apostles, 1:6-8
Ascension and Promise of the Lord’s Return, 1:9-l 1
Events in the Upper Room, 1:12-26

Part 2: The Day of Pentecost, 2:1-47
The Outpoured Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, 2:1-13
Peter’s Speech and the Response, 2:14-41
The New Community of Believers, 2:42-47

Part 3: The Witness of the Early Jerusalem Church, 3:1—5:42
Witness of a Great Miracle, 3:1 —4:31
Continuing Life Within the Community, 4:32—5:16
Another Encounter with the Sanhedrin, 5:17-42

Part 4: The Martyr-Witness of Stephen, 6:1—8:1a
Appointment of the Seven, 6:1-6
Continued Growth of the Church, 6:7
Stephen’s Ministry and Arrest, 6:8—7:1
Stephen’s Final Speech, 7:2-53
Stephen’s Witness in Death; Saul Introduced, 7:54—8:1a

Part 5: The Witness of a Persecuted and Scattered Church, 8:1b—9:31
Hellenist Christians Scattered by Persecution, 8:lb-3
Philip’s Witness in Samaria, 8:4-13
Mission of Peter and John to Samaria, 8:14-25
Philip’s Witness to the Ethiopian, 8:26-40
The Conversion of Saul, 9:1-19a
Saul’s Witness in Damascus, 9:19b-25
Saul’s Witness in Jerusalem, 9:26-30
A New Era of Peace and Growth, 9:31

Part 6: The Continuing Ministry of Peter, 9:32—12:25
Healing of Aeneas at Lydda, 9:32-35
Raising of Dorcas at Joppa, 9:36-43
Conversion of Cornelius and Household, 10:1—11:18
The Jew-Gentile Church in Antioch, 11:19-30
Peter’s Imprisonment and Deliverance, 12:1-19
The Death of Herod Agrippa 1, 12:20-23
Church Growth; Return of Barnabas and Saul, 12:24-25

Part 7: First Mission of Witness to the Gentile World, 13:1-15:35
Witness of Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus, 13:4-12
Paul and Barnabas at Pisidian Antioch, 13:13-52
Further Witness in the Galatian Highlands, 14:1-23
Return to Syrian Antioch and Report, 14:24-28
The Council of Jerusalem, 15:1—35
Dispute over Circumcision for Gentiles, 15:1-5
Jerusalem Meeting of Church Leaders, 15:6-21
What Seems Good to the Spirit and the Church, 15:22-35

Part 8: The Witness in Macedonia and Athens, 15:36-17:34
From Antioch to Troas, 15:36—16:10
The Witness of Paul and Silas in Philippi, 16:11-40
The Witness in Thessalonica, 17:1-9
The Witness in Berea, 17:10-14
The Witness in Athens, 17:15-34

Part 9: The Witness in Corinth and Ephesus, 18—19
Ministry in Corinth, 18:1-17
Journey Toward Syria; Stopover at Ephesus, 18:18-21
Visit to Jerusalem; Return to Ephesus, 18:22-23
Apollos at Ephesus; On to Corinth, 18:24-28
Paul’s Ministry in Ephesus, 19:1-10
Triumph of Miracles over Magic at Ephesus, 19:11-20
Paul's Plan To Go o Jerusalem 19:21-22
Silversmiths Stirring Up Confusion at Ephesus, 19:23-41

Part 10: Journey to Jerusalem and Witness There, 20:1-23:35
From Ephesus to Jerusalem, 20:1—21:16
Farewells in Macedonia, Greece, and Troas, 20:1-16
Farewell to the Ephesian Elders, 20:17-38
Farewells at Tyre, Ptolemais, and Caesarea, 21:1-14
From Caesarea to Jerusalem, 21:15-16
Encounters in Jerusalem, 21:17—23:35
Report to Jerusalem Church; Request of James, 21:17-25
Paul’s Arrest at the Temple, 21:26-40
Paul’s Defense in Jerusalem, 22:1—23:10
A Night Vision of Reassurance, 23:11
Dealing with the Plot Against Paul, 23:12-35

Part 11: Witness in Caesarea, 24—26
Paul’s Trial Before Felix, 24:1-27
Paul’s First Trial Before Festus, 25:1-12
Paul’s Hearing Before Festus and Agrippa, 25:13—26:32

Part 12: Witness—On to Rome, 27—28
Voyage to Rome, 27:1—28:16
From Caesarea to Crete, 27:1-12
The Storm, 27:13-26
The Snipwreck 27:27- 44
Wintering on the Island of Malta, 28:1-10
From Malta to Rome, 28:11 -16
Paul’s Witness in Rome, 28:17-31
First Session with the Jewish Leaders, 28:17-22
Second Meeting with the Jews, 28:23-28
Two Years of Unhindered Witness, 28:30-31

Outline of Acts
Essays
Map of Palestine in New Testament Times
Map of the New Testament World
Bibliography
Recommended Resources for Personal and Group Study
The Author

Chalmer E. Faw brings Acts to life for our day. He blends thorough biblical scholarship with wisdom from extensive and varied experience in missionary work and Bible teaching. His careful exposition of the book of Acts is supplemented with literary and theological discussion. The key word in Acts is witness for Jesus Christ, from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. God's Spirit anoints the church at Pentecost, leads believers in handling conflicts between converts new and old, and empowers Christians to overcome false beliefs and magic. In Acts, Luke tells this dramatic story with subtle humor.