New Testament · 28 chapters
Read Acts.
Acts follows the risen Jesus’ witnesses as the Holy Spirit carries the gospel from Jerusalem across cultural and geographic boundaries. The growth of the church unfolds through prayer, conflict, persecution, generosity, and unexpected conversions.
Choose a chapter Acts · 28 chapters
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Choose a chapter for the complete Bible text and a short summary to guide your reading.
Chapter 1.
The risen Jesus commissions his witnesses and ascends, promising the Holy Spirit. The disciples gather in prayer and choose Matthias to replace Judas.
Read chapter 47 versesChapter 2.
The Spirit comes at Pentecost, and Peter explains the event through Scripture and Jesus’ resurrection. New believers are baptized and begin a shared life of teaching, prayer, and generosity.
Read chapter 26 versesChapter 3.
Peter and John heal a man who has been unable to walk from birth. Peter directs the crowd’s attention to Jesus and calls for repentance.
Read chapter 37 versesChapter 4.
Authorities challenge Peter and John, but they continue witnessing to Jesus. The believers pray for boldness and share resources so that needy members receive care.
Read chapter 42 versesChapter 5.
Ananias and Sapphira’s deception exposes the seriousness of dishonesty within the community. The apostles continue teaching despite arrest, threats, and punishment.
Read chapter 15 versesChapter 6.
Seven people are appointed to address an overlooked group in the daily distribution. Stephen’s ministry draws opposition, leading to accusations and arrest.
Read chapterChapter 7.
Stephen retells Israel’s history to expose recurring resistance to God’s messengers. His testimony culminates in a vision of Jesus and his death by stoning.
Read chapter 40 versesChapter 8.
Persecution scatters believers, carrying the gospel into Samaria. Philip also explains Scripture to an Ethiopian official, who responds with baptism.
Read chapter 43 versesChapter 9.
Saul encounters the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and begins a transformed mission. Peter’s ministry includes healing Aeneas and restoring Tabitha to life.
Read chapter 48 versesChapter 10.
God prepares Cornelius and Peter for a meeting across Jewish-Gentile boundaries. The Spirit comes upon Cornelius’s household, confirming their welcome before baptism.
Read chapter 30 versesChapter 11.
Peter explains the Gentile believers’ reception of the Spirit to the Jerusalem church. The gospel also spreads in Antioch, where a generous response to coming famine develops.
Read chapter 25 versesChapter 12.
Herod kills James and imprisons Peter, but Peter is delivered while the church prays. Herod’s later death contrasts with the continuing spread of God’s word.
Read chapter 52 versesChapter 13.
The Antioch church sends Barnabas and Saul, who preach in Cyprus and Pisidian Antioch. Opposition and Gentile response reveal the mission’s expanding reach.
Read chapter 28 versesChapter 14.
Paul and Barnabas face mixed responses in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, including attempted worship and violent persecution. They strengthen the new churches before returning to Antioch.
Read chapter 41 versesChapter 15.
A council in Jerusalem addresses whether Gentile believers must be circumcised. Its decision affirms their welcome, and a later disagreement separates Paul and Barnabas’s travel teams.
Read chapter 40 versesChapter 16.
Timothy joins Paul, and a vision directs the mission toward Macedonia. In Philippi, Lydia responds, and imprisonment leads to the conversion of a jailer’s household.
Read chapter 34 versesChapter 17.
Paul encounters varied responses in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. His address in Athens presents the Creator and the risen Jesus to an audience unfamiliar with Israel’s Scriptures.
Read chapter 28 versesChapter 18.
Paul works and teaches in Corinth before traveling onward. Aquila and Priscilla later help Apollos understand the Christian message more fully.
Read chapter 41 versesChapter 19.
Paul’s ministry in Ephesus brings conversions, public rejection of magical practices, and conflict with trades tied to Artemis worship. Economic interests fuel a citywide disturbance.
Read chapter 38 versesChapter 20.
Paul travels through Macedonia and Greece, encourages believers, and speaks late into the night at Troas. His farewell to Ephesian elders emphasizes faithful service and vigilant care.
Read chapter 40 versesChapter 21.
Despite warnings of suffering, Paul continues to Jerusalem and meets the church’s leaders. A misunderstanding in the temple leads to mob violence and his arrest.
Read chapter 30 versesChapter 22.
Paul recounts his conversion and calling to the crowd in Jerusalem. Hostility rises when he mentions his mission to Gentiles, and his Roman citizenship prevents a flogging.
Read chapter 35 versesChapter 23.
Paul appears before the council, where disagreement interrupts the hearing. A plot to kill him is exposed, and he is transferred under guard to Caesarea.
Read chapter 27 versesChapter 24.
Paul answers charges before Felix and speaks about righteousness, self-control, and judgment. Political calculation and personal motives keep him imprisoned.
Read chapter 27 versesChapter 25.
Festus hears Paul’s case, and Paul appeals to Caesar rather than risk a hostile transfer. Agrippa’s visit creates another opportunity to explain the charges.
Read chapter 32 versesChapter 26.
Paul recounts his former opposition to Jesus and his commission as a witness. Agrippa and Festus recognize that the case does not justify death or imprisonment.
Read chapter 44 versesChapter 27.
Paul’s journey to Rome encounters a severe storm and shipwreck. His assurance that lives will be preserved proves true despite the ship’s destruction.
Read chapter 31 versesChapter 28.
After receiving hospitality on Malta, Paul reaches Rome under guard. He continues explaining the kingdom of God and teaching about Jesus with remarkable freedom.
Read chapterKing James Version (KJV). Bible text supplied by eBible.org and the CrossWire Bible Society. Summaries are written with AI assistance and are separate from Scripture. Read the chapter itself when considering its meaning.