The continuation of the story of Luke's Gospel. Whereas the Gospel is about 'all that Jesus began to do and to teach' (Acts 1:1), Acts is about what Jesus continued to do and teach in the early church through the work of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the Spirit's activity is so central it might be better called 'The Acts of the Holy Spirit'. Luke's involvement is mentioned in the prologue (1:1-2; cf. Luke 1:1-4) and indicated by the 'we' passages where the author joins Paul on his travels (e.g. 16:10-17). The date of Acts is linked with that of Luke's Gospel, and the whole work was probably written in the early 60s after Paul's arrival in Rome or in the 80s. The book describes how the gospel was taken from Jerusalem to Rome. It shows how Jesus' promise to the disciples was fulfilled, that 'you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth' (1:8). The effects of Pentecost on the church in Jerusalem (chapters 1-5) are followed by the spread of the gospel to Judea and Samaria through persecution (6:1-11:19). In the final stage, further persecution brought the gospel to Antioch, which became the base for expansion to Rome (11:20-28:31). Two leaders dominate the book. Peter's role in chapters 1-12 is as God's messenger to the Jews, though he comes to realize that the Gentiles are just as much part of God's plan. In chapters 13-28, the task of taking the gospel to the Gentiles falls to Paul, who travels to Cyprus, Asia Minor and Greece three times before making his final journey to Rome. Acts is a book of speeches and action. The frequent speeches are either evangelistic, explaining the message about Jesus, or a defence of Christianity, often in the setting of a courtroom. They contain the essential elements of the Christian message, and centre on Jesus' identity as Messiah and Lord (2:36) and on the fact of his resurrection. The actions either show the effect of the message, such as the conversion of 3,000 people at once (2:41), or are signs confirming its power, as with Paul's extraordinary miracles (19:11). The result was that despite persecution, misunderstandings and disagreements, the early church quickly became established in many parts of the Roman empire.

1. Acts of the Apostles 1-10 (Geneva)
2. Acts of the Apostles 11-20 (Geneva)
3. Acts of the Apostles 21-28 (Geneva)