The Acts of the Apostles (Book of Acts)

The Acts of the Apostles, in the Vulgate Actus Apostolorum, stands between the Gospels and the Epistles and joins them together. It opens on the Mount of Olives at the Ascension and closes in Rome, where St Paul, a prisoner, preaches "the kingdom of God... with all confidence, without prohibition." Challoner's preface warns that it is not "a history of what was done by all the Apostles," but "only a short view of the first establishment of the Christian Church." St Peter fills the first twelve chapters, St Paul the rest, and through both works the Holy Ghost.

The author: St Luke the Evangelist

St Luke the Evangelist, the physician and companion of St Paul, who also wrote the third Gospel. The Pontifical Biblical Commission, in its reply of 12 June 1913, stated that "the author of the Acts of the Apostles is Luke the Evangelist," as is clear from Tradition, from the book itself and from its relation to the third Gospel.

The book begins: "The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach" (Acts 1). That "former treatise" is the Gospel of St Luke, dedicated to the same "most excellent Theophilus" (Luke 1:3), and the two books share one style and one plan. In several passages the narrator passes from "they" to "we": "immediately we sought to go into Macedonia" (Acts 16, verse 10). These "we" sections (16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16) show that the author sailed with Paul to Jerusalem and then to Rome, and of Paul's companions in Rome only Luke fits: "Luke the most dear physician, saluteth you" (Colossians 4).

The Fathers agree. St Irenaeus calls Luke "inseparable from Paul" and quotes Acts as his; the Muratorian Fragment says that the acts of all the Apostles "are written in one book" by Luke for "most excellent Theophilus"; Tertullian and Clement of Alexandria cite it under his name, and Eusebius counts it among the books no one had doubted. For his life and feast, see our article on St Luke the Evangelist.

Date and place of writing

At Rome, toward the end of St Paul's first Roman captivity. The book ends abruptly: "he remained two whole years in his own hired lodging" (Acts 28). It says nothing of Paul's trial or martyrdom, of Nero's persecution or of the fall of Jerusalem, most simply because none of it had yet happened. St Jerome drew the conclusion (Lives of Illustrious Men, 7): Luke's history runs "to the second year of Paul's sojourn at Rome, that is to the fourth year of Nero, from which we learn that the book was composed in that same city." The Biblical Commission (1913) affirmed that Luke completed it "toward the end of the first Roman captivity."

Challoner says the history "ends in the year sixty-three, being a brief account of the Church for the space of about thirty years," and the Catholic Encyclopedia holds 64 the most probable year of writing. Many modern scholars place Acts later, between AD 70 and 90; the traditional reading, which the text itself supports, remains the early date.

What is the Book of Acts about? A summary

Our Lord gives the plan before His Ascension: "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" (1:8). The book follows that order.

The Ascension and Pentecost (chapters 1–2)

For forty days the risen Christ appears to the Apostles, and then "a cloud received him out of their sight" (chapters 1–2). In the upper room they persevere "with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus" (1:14), and Matthias is chosen by lot to replace Judas. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost descends in "parted tongues as it were of fire," Peter preaches, and about three thousand are baptized (Acts 2). See our articles on the Ascension and St Matthias.

The Church in Jerusalem (chapters 3–5)

Peter heals a man lame from birth: "Silver and gold I have none; but what I have, I give thee" (chapters 3–5). Before the Sanhedrin he proclaims "no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4). The believers have "but one heart and one soul"; Ananias and Sapphira, who lie "to the Holy Ghost," fall dead; and the Apostles, scourged, go out "rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus" (Acts 5).

Stephen, the deacons and Samaria (chapters 6–8)

The Apostles pray and lay hands on seven men "full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom," the first deacons (Acts 6). Stephen rehearses the history of Israel before the Council and is stoned, praying for his murderers, while a young man named Saul consents to his death (Acts 7). The persecution scatters the Church: Philip preaches in Samaria, Peter and John come to lay hands on the baptized, Simon Magus tries to buy the gift, and Philip baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8).

Saul's conversion and the first Gentiles (chapters 9–12)

On the road to Damascus Saul hears: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" He is baptized, "a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles" (chapters 9–12). Peter raises Tabitha at Joppe, learns in a vision that God "is not a respecter of persons," and baptizes the centurion Cornelius and his household (Acts 10). At Antioch "the disciples were first named Christians" (Acts 11). Herod kills James the brother of John and imprisons Peter, but an angel frees him while "prayer was made without ceasing by the church" (Acts 12). See the Conversion of St Paul.

Paul's first journey and the Council of Jerusalem (chapters 13–15)

"Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them," says the Holy Ghost, and with fasting, prayer and the laying on of hands they are sent out to Cyprus and Asia Minor (chapters 13–14). When some demand that Gentile converts be circumcised, the Apostles and ancients meet at Jerusalem; Peter speaks first, James concurs, and the Council writes: "it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you" (Acts 15). St Paul tells of his own dealings with Peter, James and John at Jerusalem in the Epistle to the Galatians. On Paul's companion, see St Barnabas.

Paul's second and third journeys (chapters 16–21)

At the call of a man of Macedonia, Paul crosses into Europe. At Philippi Lydia believes and the jailer asks, "what must I do, that I may be saved?" (Acts 16). At Athens Paul preaches on the Areopagus about the altar "To the unknown God" (Acts 17), and at Corinth he stays a year and six months. At Ephesus God works "more than common miracles" by his hand, and the silversmiths riot for Diana (Acts 19). He bids farewell to the bishops of Ephesus at Miletus (Acts 20). His Epistles to the Thessalonians, Corinthians and Romans belong to these years.

Paul the prisoner, from Jerusalem to Rome (chapters 21–28)

Seized in the Temple, Paul defends himself before the crowd, the Sanhedrin, the governors Felix and Festus, and King Agrippa, who answers: "In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian" (chapters 21–26). As a Roman citizen he appeals to Caesar. The voyage ends in shipwreck on Malta (Acts 27), and at last "we went to Rome" (Acts 28). Tradition places in this Roman captivity the Epistles to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. For the whole life, see St Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.

The Holy Ghost in the Book of Acts and the Catholic reading

Acts has been called the Gospel of the Holy Ghost. He descends at Pentecost, fills Peter before the Council and Stephen at his death, falls on Cornelius' household, sets apart Barnabas and Saul, forbids Paul to preach in Asia (16:6), and speaks in the Council's decree.

Pentecost and tongues. At Pentecost "every man heard them speak in his own tongue" (2:6): real languages, understood by Jews of every nation, the reversal of Babel (Genesis 11). Peter explains it as the fulfilment of Joel 2: "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh." See Pentecost and the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

The sacraments. Acts shows Baptism "for the remission of your sins" (2:38) and Confirmation as a distinct sacrament: the Samaritans "were only baptized," and Peter and John "laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (8:16-17). Challoner notes: "The apostles administered the sacrament of confirmation, by imposition of hands, and prayer" (see the Sacrament of Confirmation). The faithful persevere "in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (2:42) and assemble "on the first day of the week... to break bread" (20:7), where Challoner, after St John Chrysostom, sees the Lord's Day already kept. Holy Orders appears in the laying on of hands upon the deacons (6:6) and in the bishops whom "the Holy Ghost hath placed... to rule the church of God" (20:28).

Peter's primacy. Peter leads the choice of Matthias, preaches first at Pentecost, judges Ananias, admits the first Gentiles and speaks first at the Council, as our article on St Peter, the Apostle and first Pope explains.

Our Lady. Mary is last named in Scripture in the upper room, praying with the Apostles before Pentecost (1:14), the scene of the third Glorious Mystery. Leo XIII, speaking of her office "the beginnings of which were consecrated in the Cenacle," called her "in very truth, the Mother of the Church, the Teacher and Queen of the Apostles" (Adiutricem populi, 1895).

Martyrdom. Stephen dies as his Master died: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (7:59). Of the Apostles' deaths Acts records only that of James (12:2); see how the Apostles died.

St John Chrysostom, who preached fifty-five homilies on Acts, began by lamenting that "to many persons this Book is so little known, both it and its author, that they are not even aware that there is such a book in existence."

Famous chapters and verses of Acts

Acts 1:11. "This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven" (Acts 1).

Acts 2:38. "Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2).

Acts 4:12 and 5:29. "Neither is there salvation in any other" (Acts 4); "We ought to obey God, rather than men" (Acts 5).

Acts 7:55. "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7).

Acts 9. "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" (Acts 9); Paul tells the story again in Acts 22 and Acts 26.

Acts 16. Lydia, "a seller of purple," "whose heart the Lord opened," and the answer to the jailer: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16).

Acts 17:28 and 20:35. "For in him we live, and move, and are" (Acts 17); "It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive," a saying of Our Lord found nowhere in the Gospels (Acts 20).

Acts in the canon and in the liturgy

Acts has the same name and twenty-eight chapters in Catholic and Protestant Bibles, and was never disputed: the Councils of Rome (382), Hippo (393), Carthage (397) and Florence list it, and Trent (Session IV, 1546) names "the Acts of the Apostles written by Luke the Evangelist." Written in Greek, it came to the West in the Latin Vulgate, source of our Douay-Rheims Bible. Apocryphal "Acts" such as the Acts of Thomas were never received. Nor should the book be confused with "the book of the acts of Solomon," the lost chronicle cited in 3 Kings 11, which the Douay calls "the book of the words of the days of Solomon."

The 1962 Missal draws on Acts above all between Easter and Pentecost: the Epistles of Easter Monday to Thursday (10:37-43; 13:16, 26-33; 3:13-15, 17-19; 8:26-40), of the Ascension (1:1-11), of Pentecost (2:1-11) and of Whit Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (10:42-48; 8:14-17; 8:5-8). It gives the Epistle for St Stephen on 26 December (6:8-10; 7:54-59), the Conversion of St Paul (9:1-22), St Matthias (1:15-26), St Barnabas (11:21-26; 13:1-3), and Sts Peter and Paul on 29 June (12:1-11). In the Breviary, Acts is read at Matins in Paschaltide, with the Apocalypse and the Epistles of St James, St Peter and St John. Follow these days in our liturgical calendar and the Breviary.

How to read the Book of Acts

Read it straight after St Luke's Gospel, as its author intended, in a few sittings. Keep a map of Paul's journeys at hand for chapters 13 to 28, and read each Epistle as you reach the city it was sent to. Between Easter and Pentecost, read a chapter a day, with the Vulgate beside the English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote the Book of Acts?

St Luke the Evangelist, physician and companion of St Paul, who also wrote the third Gospel. Acts opens by recalling a "former treatise" to the same Theophilus, and its "we" passages show that the writer travelled with Paul. Tradition is unanimous, and the Pontifical Biblical Commission upheld Luke's authorship in 1913.

Did Paul write the Book of Acts?

No. St Paul is the main figure of chapters 13 to 28, but Acts speaks of him in the third person and was written by his companion St Luke, who shared his journeys and his Roman captivity.

When was the Book of Acts written?

At Rome, around AD 63-64, toward the end of St Paul's first Roman captivity. The book ends with Paul's two years in his hired lodging and says nothing of his death or of the fall of Jerusalem. This is the dating of St Jerome and of the Biblical Commission (1913); many modern scholars propose a later date.

Who was Theophilus in the Book of Acts?

Theophilus is the man to whom St Luke dedicated both his Gospel and Acts; his Greek name means "friend of God" or "beloved of God." Luke calls him "most excellent" (Luke 1:3), the title Acts gives to the governors Felix (23:26) and Festus (26:25), which suggests a man of rank, and he had already been "instructed" in the faith (Luke 1:4). Nothing more is known of him for certain.

What is the Book of Acts about?

It tells how the Church was born and spread in the thirty years after the Ascension: Pentecost, the Church in Jerusalem under St Peter, the martyrdom of St Stephen, the conversion of St Paul, the entry of the Gentiles, the Council of Jerusalem, Paul's journeys, and his voyage as a prisoner to Rome.

How many chapters are in the Book of Acts?

The Book of Acts has 28 chapters in the Douay-Rheims, the Latin Vulgate and Protestant Bibles alike. Chapters 1 to 12 centre on St Peter and chapters 13 to 28 on St Paul. You can read every chapter here, beginning with Acts 1.

Who was Stephen in the Book of Acts?

St Stephen was one of the seven deacons, "a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 6:5). After the long speech of Acts 7 he was stoned outside Jerusalem, praying for his killers, while Saul looked on. He is the first martyr, and his feast is kept on 26 December.

What happened at Pentecost in the Book of Acts?

Fifty days after Easter the Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles, gathered with Our Lady, with "a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind" and "parted tongues as it were of fire" (Acts 2:2-3). They spoke in languages each listener understood, Peter preached Christ risen, and about three thousand were baptized that day.

Read the whole Book of Acts verse by verse, Latin and English, in the Iter Fidei Catholic Bible app.

Sources. The Acts of the Apostles, Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims (Challoner revision, 1749-1752), with Challoner's preface and notes; St Irenaeus, Against Heresies III; the Muratorian Fragment; Tertullian; Clement of Alexandria; Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History III; St Jerome, De viris illustribus 7; St John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; St Bede, Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles; Cornelius a Lapide, Commentaria in Acta Apostolorum; Council of Trent, Session IV, Decree on the Canonical Scriptures (1546); Pontifical Biblical Commission, reply on the Acts of the Apostles (12 June 1913); Leo XIII, Adiutricem populi (1895); The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), "Acts of the Apostles" and "St Luke"; Missale Romanum (1962); Breviarium Romanum (1962).