Luke addresses Theophilus again, summarizing Jesus' post-resurrection teaching about the kingdom of God during forty days of appearances, His command to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit's baptism, and His disclaimer about knowing times the Father has set by His own authority. Jesus promises power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the earth's ends, then ascends from the Mount of Olives while two men in white apparel promise His return in like manner. The 120 disciples, including Mary and Jesus' brothers, devote themselves to prayer, and Peter leads the selection of Matthias by lot to replace Judas, whose field purchase with betrayal money and gruesome death fulfilled Scripture.
Read Acts Chapter 1 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Peter
Leader of early Jerusalem church
Paul the Apostle
Apostle to the Gentiles, missionary
Stephen
First Christian martyr
Jesus Christ
Son of God, Messiah, Savior
John Mark
Author of the Gospel of Mark
James, Brother of Jesus
Leader of the Jerusalem Church
Andrew
Brother of Peter
Philip
Apostle from Bethsaida
Thomas
The Doubting Apostle
Matthew
The Tax Collector
Judas Iscariot
The Betrayer of Jesus
Mary of Bethany
Sister of Martha and Lazarus
David
King of Israel
Joseph of Arimathea
The One Who Buried Jesus
Lot
Nephew of Abraham
Places in This Chapter
Samaria
View on MapSamaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel and later became the name for the entire region between Judea and Galilee. After the Assyrian conquest, the population became mixed, and the Samaritans developed their own form of worship. Jews and Samaritans had deep hostility. Jesus broke social barriers by speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well and telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Galilee
View on MapGalilee was a region in northern Israel where Jesus grew up and conducted much of His ministry. Jesus called His first disciples here, performed many miracles, and taught large crowds. After His resurrection, Jesus met His disciples in Galilee and commissioned them to make disciples of all nations.
Position in Book
Jerusalem ChurchChapters 1-7
Ascension, Pentecost, early community, Stephen's martyrdom.
Expansion to Judea/SamariaChapters 8-12
Paul's First JourneyChapters 13-14
Jerusalem CouncilChapters 15
Paul's Second JourneyChapters 16-18
Paul's Third JourneyChapters 19-21
Paul's Trials and RomeChapters 22-28
Bible Bites
The Gospel Spreads in 28 Chapters
The book of Acts contains 28 chapters chronicling the explosive growth of the early church from Jerusalem to Rome. Written by Luke as a sequel to his Gospel, it begins with 120 believers in an upper room and ends with Paul preaching boldly in the capital of the Roman Empire.
ActsThe narrator joins the story
In Acts 16:10, Luke suddenly switches from 'they' to 'we,' revealing he personally joined Paul's missionary journey. These 'we passages' (Acts 16, 20-21, 27-28) provide eyewitness accounts showing Luke was present for key events including Paul's shipwreck.
Acts 16:10The apostle chosen by lot
Matthias is the only apostle chosen by casting lots, replacing Judas to restore the Twelve. This is the last recorded instance of casting lots in Scripture, as the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2) provided direct divine guidance.
Acts 1:26