Outline of Acts I. The church beginning in Jerusalem: its birth among the Jews, early growth, and local opposition 1:1-7:60 A. The birth of the church 1:1-2:47 1. Preliminary matters: relating Acts to the Gospels 1:1-26 2. Pentecost: the coming of the Holy Spirit 2:1-47 B. A miracle with significant consequences 3:1-4:31 1. The healing of a lame man 3:1-11 2. The preaching of Peter 3:12-26 3. The threatenings of the Sadducees 4:1-31 C. Opposition from within and without 4:32-5:42 1. The incident concerning Ananias and Sapphira 4:32-5:11 2. The persecution by the Sadducees renewed 5:12-42 D. The seven chosen and ministering in Jerusalem 6:1-7:60 1. The Seven chosen to serve in the Jerusalem church 6:1-7 2. Stephen's ministry in Jerusalem 6:8-7:60 II. The church spreading throughout Judea, Samaria, and Syria: its beginnings among the Gentiles 8:1-12:25 A. The persecution that scattered the entire church 8:1-4 B. The ministry of Philip 8:5-40 1. To the Samaritans 8:5-25 2. To an Ethiopian proselyte 8:26-39 3. At Caesarea 8:40 C. The conversion and early ministry of Saul, the apostle to the Gentiles 9:1-31 1. His conversion and commission 9:1-19 2. His early ministries 9:20-30 3. His conversion brings peace and growth to the churches of Palestine 9:31 D. The ministry of Peter 9:32-11:18 1. His itinerant ministry throughout Judea and Samaria 9:32-43 2. His ministry to Gentiles in Caesarea 10:1-11:18 E. The mission at Antioch of Syria 11:19-30 1. The early work among the Jews 11:19 2. The later work among the Gentiles 11:20-22 3. The ministry at Antioch 11:23-30 F. The prosperity of the church despite persecution by the Palestinian king 12:1-25 1. Herod's attempts to hinder the church 12:1-19 2. God's victory through the slaying of Herod 12:20-25 III. The church progressing westward to Rome: its shift from a Jewish to a Gentile entity 13:1-28:31 A. First missionary journey 13:1-14:28 1. At Antioch of Syria: the commissioning 13:1-4 2. On Cyprus: Sergius Paulus believes 13:5-13 3. At Antioch of Pisidia: Paul's message received by the Gentiles, rejected by Jews 13:14-52 4. In the Galatian cities: Iconium, Lystra, Derbe 14:1-20 5. On the return: establishing new churches and reporting home 14:21-28 B. Jerusalem council 15:1-35 1. The problem: conflict over the place of the Law in salvation and church life 15:1-3 2. The discussion 15:4-18 3. The decision: stated and sent 15:19-35 C. Second missionary journey 15:36-18:22 1. The opening events 15:36-16:10 2. The work at Philippi 16:11-40 3. The work at Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens 17:1-34 4. The work at Corinth 18:1-17 5. The return to Antioch 18:18-22 D. Third missionary journey 18:23-21:16 1. Preliminary work at Ephesus involving Apollos 18:23-28 2. Paul's work at Ephesus 19:1-41 3. Paul's return to the established churches 20:1-21:16 E. Phase one of the Roman imprisonment. Paul's witness in Jerusalem 21:17-23:35 1. Paul with the Jerusalem church 21:17-26 2. Paul seized and falsely accused 21:27-36 3. Paul's defense before the people 21:37-22:29 4. Paul's defense before the Sanhedrin 22:30-23:10 5. Paul delivered from a conspiracy 23:11-35 F. Phase two of the Roman imprisonment: Paul's witness in Ceasarea 24:1-26:32 1. Paul before Felix 24:1-27 2. Paul before Festus 25:1-12 3. Paul's case presented to King Agrippa 25:13-27 4. Paul's defense before King Agrippa 26:1-32 G. Phase three of the Roman imprisonment: Paul's witness to Rome 27:1-28:31 1. The sea voyage and shipwreck 27:1-44 2. The winter on Melita 28:1-10 3. The final trip to Rome 28:11-15 4. The witness at Rome 28:16-31