Acts

🏛️ Historical context

It covers about thirty years (AD 30-62). The Gospel spreads through the Roman Empire thanks to its roads, Greek as a common language and the synagogues of the diaspora.

🔙 Background

It is the second part of Luke's work: it picks up where his Gospel ends, with Jesus' ascension.

🧭 Structure of the book

⭐ Key events and teachings

1. 1The Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (ch. 1-2)
2. 2The first community: prayer, breaking of bread and goods in common (2:42-47)
3. 3The martyrdom of Saint Stephen (ch. 7)
4. 4Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus (ch. 9)
5. 5Peter baptizes the Gentile Cornelius (ch. 10)
6. 6The Council of Jerusalem (ch. 15)
7. 7Paul reaches Rome (ch. 28)

🏷️ Main themes

📖 Verses to memorize

• Acts 1:8But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
• Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.
• Acts 2:42And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles and in the communication of the breaking of bread and in prayers.
• Acts 4:12Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.
• Acts 20:35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring you ought to support the weak and to remember the word of the Lord Jesus, how he said: It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive.

💭 For reflection

• Which features of the first community (Acts 2:42) does my parish need?
• Where is the Spirit sending me to bear witness?

The continuation of Luke's Gospel. It narrates the Ascension, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the spread of the Church from Jerusalem to Rome, with Peter's preaching and Paul's missionary journeys.