Guide
What Is Acts of the Apostles?
Late 1st or Early 2nd Century
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The Acts of the Apostles, or the book of Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament and the second part of a larger work known as Luke–Acts, which includes the Gospel of Luke and likely dates to the late first or early second century CE. Acts’ narrative begins with Jesus’ ascent to heaven and discusses the reception of the Holy Spirit by his apostles, the founding of the church at Antioch, and Paul’s mission to the gentiles. A major theme in Acts is how Christianity, originally a Jewish sect, ultimately became a largely gentile church.
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Pharisees and Sadducees on Resurrection
Acts 23:6–10
When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the…
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Paul’s Recognition of Jesus as Son of God and Messiah
Acts 9:1–30
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who…
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Mission to the Gentiles
Acts 22:17–21
After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw Jesus saying to me, “Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your…
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Sabbath as a Time of Teaching
Acts 13:42–43
As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people urged them to speak about these things again the next sabbath. When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism…
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The Council at Jerusalem
Acts 15:1–21
Then certain individuals came down from Judaea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no…
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Stephen’s Speech
Acts 7:1–53
Then the high priest asked him, “Are these things so?” And Stephen replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before…
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Archisynagōgos Crispus of Corinth’s Conversion to Christianity
Acts 18:8
Crispus, the official of the synagogue [archisynagōgos], became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized
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The Arrest and Trial of Peter and John
Acts 4:1–6
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in…
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Antiochene Believers in Christ Send Relief to Compatriots in Judaea
Acts 11:27–30
At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place…
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A Pilgrimage for a Rite of Purification
Acts 21:17–26
When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly. The next day Paul went with us to visit James; and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the…
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Jesus’ Apostles Filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost
Acts 2:1–6
This passage describes the apostles’ reception of the holy spirit in Jerusalem on Shavuot, echoing several passages in the Hebrew Bible.
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Berenice and Agrippa Sit in Judgment of Paul
Acts 25–26 (selections)
Three days after [the Roman procurator] Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report…
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Claudius Expels Jews from Rome
Acts 18:1–3
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews…
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The New Testament on Punishment in the Synagogue
Acts 22:19
And I [Paul] said, “Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.”
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The New Testament on Reading Scripture in the Synagogue
Luke 4:16–20|Acts 13:13–16
When he [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the…
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The New Testament on Preaching and Teaching in the Synagogue
Mark 6:1–2|Luke 4:14–15|Acts 14:1; 17:1–3, 16–18
He [Jesus] left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him…
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Greek Women in the Synagogue
Acts 17:10–12
That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they…
Related Guide
Ancient Jewish Communal Identities: Early Christians
1st–2nd Century