The Book Of Acts
What Is The Book Of Acts About?
Acts is Luke's inspired account of how the risen, ascended Christ built His church by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the continuing work of Jesus — "all that Jesus began both to do and teach" (Acts 1:1) — now carried out from His throne through the apostles, as the gospel advances from Jerusalem to Rome and salvation is proclaimed to all nations in no other name but His.
Last updated: June 2026
The Book of Acts (or the Acts of the Apostles) is the historical record of the risen Christ continuing His earthly ministry from heaven through the power of the Holy Spirit. These sermons bridge the gap between the ascension of Jesus and the explosive growth of the early church. Discover how the gospel shatters geographic and ethnic barriers, moving from a small upper room in Jerusalem to the heart of the Roman Empire. Through triumphant conversions and fierce persecutions, Acts proves that even the gates of hell cannot prevail against the advancement of Christ's kingdom.
Who Wrote Acts?
Acts was authored by Luke, the "beloved physician" and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul. Written around A.D. 60–62 as the direct sequel to his Gospel account, Luke specifically addresses this narrative to "Theophilus" (meaning lover of God). Luke serves as a master historian, providing an accurate geographical and political record of the first-century Mediterranean world. He transitions from relying on eyewitness accounts to incorporating his own firsthand experiences alongside Paul (the famous "we" passages). His purpose is to trace the redemptive-historical transition from Judaism to a predominantly Gentile church, showing that this global expansion was directly orchestrated by the sovereign will of God.
What Are The Primary Themes?
The Sovereignty of God in Redemptive History: The apostles boldly preach that nothing—not even the crucifixion of the Messiah or the intense persecution of the church—falls outside the eternal decree of God.
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it." (Acts 2:22-24, NKJV)The Power of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the true protagonist of the book, empowering ordinary men for extraordinary witness, orchestrating divine appointments, and regenerating dead hearts (such as opening the heart of Lydia in Acts 16).
Few books illustrate the Westminster Standards as vividly as Acts. Its account of Christ "received up into heaven" and seated at God's right hand (Acts 1:9–11; 2:33–36) is the living picture of WCF Chapter 8, which confesses that Christ ascended, "sitteth at the right hand of His Father," and rules on behalf of His church. Acts is also a sustained demonstration of WCF Chapter 10 (Of Effectual Calling): when "the Lord opened" Lydia's heart (16:14) and "as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed" (13:48), Luke shows God effectually drawing His elect to Christ by His Spirit and Word. The birth and life of the church in Acts — gathered, taught, and governed (2:42–47; 14:23) — stands behind WCF Chapter 25 (Of the Church). And the household baptisms of Acts (16:15, 16:33), together with Peter's promise "to you and to your children" (2:39), are precisely the texts WCF Chapter 28 cites for baptism as the covenant sign applied to believers and their children. To read Acts with the Confession is to see Reformed doctrine drawn straight from the apostolic church.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Book Of Acts
What is the book of Acts about?
Acts tells how the risen, ascended Christ built His church by the Holy Spirit, advancing the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Beginning with the ascension and Pentecost, it follows the apostles — especially Peter and Paul — as they preach Christ, plant churches, and carry salvation to the nations. Its theme is set in Acts 1:8: "you shall be witnesses to Me… to the end of the earth."
Who wrote the book of Acts, and when?
Acts was written by Luke, the physician and companion of Paul (Colossians 4:14), as the sequel to his Gospel; both are addressed to Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1). Luke's "we" passages (e.g., Acts 16:10) show he traveled with Paul. Most conservative scholars date Acts around A.D. 62, since it ends with Paul still under house arrest in Rome.
What happened at Pentecost in Acts 2?
Fifty days after Passover, the ascended Christ poured out the Holy Spirit on the gathered disciples (Acts 2:1–4, 33). They proclaimed Christ in many languages, Peter preached the crucified and risen Lord, and about three thousand repented and were baptized (2:41). Pentecost is the enthroned Christ keeping His promise and empowering His church for its mission.
What must I do to be saved, according to Acts?
When the Philippian jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:30–31). Salvation in Acts comes through repentance and faith in Christ alone (2:38; 4:12) — never by works or merit — resting entirely on His death and resurrection.
What was the early church like in Acts 2:42–47?
The first church "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). They worshiped, shared generously, and grew daily as the Lord added to their number. It is a portrait of a Word-centered, sacrament-keeping, praying community — the pattern behind the Reformed marks of a true church.
Who was the apostle Paul, and how was he converted (Acts 9)?
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was a zealous Pharisee who persecuted the church until the risen Christ confronted him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–6). Blinded and humbled, he was converted, baptized, and called to carry the gospel to the Gentiles (9:15). His conversion shows God's sovereign grace overcoming even a hardened enemy and making him the church's great missionary.
Does Acts 2:38 teach baptismal regeneration?
No. The Reformed reading is that Peter calls sinners to repentance and faith, with baptism as the God-appointed sign and seal of the covenant — not the cause of salvation. Forgiveness rests on Christ, received by faith (Acts 10:43; 16:31). Baptism signifies and confirms that promise; it does not produce the new birth, which is the Spirit's work (Titus 3:5; John 3:8).
How does Acts show God's sovereignty in salvation?
Repeatedly. "As many as had been appointed to eternal life believed" (Acts 13:48); "the Lord opened" Lydia's heart to believe (16:14); the Lord "added to the church daily those who were being saved" (2:47). Acts grounds every conversion in God's prior, gracious choice and His effectual call, exactly as confessed in the Westminster Standards (WCF 3; 10).
How does the book of Acts point to Jesus Christ?
Acts is the continuing work of the risen Christ (Acts 1:1). He ascends and is enthroned (2:33–36), pours out the Spirit, is the only name for salvation (4:12), opens hearts to believe (16:14), and is ordained Judge of the living and the dead (10:42; 17:31). From Jerusalem to Rome, the whole book proclaims the reign of the ascended Lord.
How does the Westminster Confession use Acts?
The Confession draws on Acts throughout: Christ's ascension and session (Chapter 8) from Acts 1–2; effectual calling (Chapter 10) from Acts 13:48 and 16:14; the doctrine of the church (Chapter 25) from Acts 2; and covenant baptism (Chapter 28) from the household baptisms and the promise "to you and to your children" (2:39; 16:15, 33). New Geneva Theological Seminary teaches Acts within this Westminster-confessional framework.
Acts Explained — Complete Sermon Series
Verse-by-verse expository preaching through Acts by Dr. Toby Holt, President of New Geneva Theological Seminary — Westminster-confessional, Reformed, and free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Hallmarks Of A Healthy Church — Acts 2:42 — What makes a church healthy? Acts 2 shows the habits of the very first one.
The Ascension And Return Of Christ — Acts 1:11 — Jesus ascended into heaven — and the angels promised He will return the same way.
Atheists, Agnostics, And The Apostle — Acts 17:23 — You have never met an atheist. Paul in Athens explains why.
Finish Well (Are You On Track) — Acts 20:24 — You want to finish well. But are you taking that outcome for granted?
The Stoning Of Stephen — Acts 7:56 — Stephen told people the truth — and they killed him for it. But why?
The Whole Counsel Of God — Acts 20:27 — How much of God’s Word should we preach? Paul’s answer: all of it.
Salvation In The Wasteland — Acts 8:35 — A caravan in the desert, a searching eunuch, and one preacher sent by God.
The One Name That Saves — Acts 4:12 — Is Jesus really the only way? Peter answered the Sanhedrin with one name.
Turn The World Upside Down — Acts 17:6 — The Gospel is not toothless. As Spurgeon said — it is like a lion. You set it loose.
Key Verses In The Book Of Acts
These are the passages that anchor the theology of Acts — the texts in which the Reformed tradition has seen the ascended Lordship of Christ, the outpouring of the Spirit, the sovereignty of God in salvation, and the covenant promise extended to believers and their children.
Acts 1:8 — "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (NKJV)
The risen Christ's final commission and the program of the whole book. The church's mission is not self-generated zeal but Spirit-given power for one purpose: to bear witness to Christ. The geographic sweep — Jerusalem to the ends of the earth — frames Acts as the unstoppable advance of the gospel, gathering the elect from every nation according to the promise.
Acts 2:38–39 — "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'" (NKJV)
Peter's Pentecost summons calls sinners to repentance and faith, with baptism as the sign and seal of the covenant. The promise reaches believers and their children — a foundation Reformed theology cites for covenant (infant) baptism — and is effectual only for those whom "the Lord our God will call." Forgiveness rests on Christ, not the water.
Acts 4:12 — "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (NKJV)
Peter's verdict before the Sanhedrin is the exclusivity of the gospel: salvation is found in Christ alone. There is no second name, no rival way, no human supplement. This is solus Christus proclaimed under pressure — the conviction that has sent the church to the nations, because if Christ is the only Savior, the world must hear of Him.
Acts 13:48 — "Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed." (NKJV)
One of Scripture's clearest statements of sovereign election. Faith does not precede appointment; it follows it. Those who believed did so because they "had been appointed to eternal life" — God's prior, gracious choice issuing in faith. Here Luke grounds the gospel's success not in human readiness but in the eternal purpose of God (WCF 3).
Acts 16:14 — "Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul." (NKJV)
Lydia's conversion is monergistic grace in miniature. She heard the gospel, but it was the Lord who "opened her heart" to receive it. Saving faith is God's gift, the fruit of His effectual call (WCF 10). The same chapter records her household baptized with her (16:15) — the covenant promise of 2:39 worked out in a believing home.
Acts 16:30–31 — "And he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.'" (NKJV)
The most direct answer to the most urgent question in Scripture. The way of salvation is not works, ritual, or merit but faith in Christ alone. The promise again extends to the jailer's household, and that very night his family is baptized (16:33) — faith receiving the Savior, the covenant sign following the gospel.
Christ In Acts — The Ascended Lord Reigning By His Spirit
Acts is often called "the Acts of the Apostles," but Luke's opening verse points higher: his Gospel recorded "all that Jesus began both to do and teach" (Acts 1:1), and Acts records what the risen Christ continued to do from heaven. The hero of the book is not Peter or Paul but the enthroned Lord Jesus, who pours out His Spirit, opens hearts, defends His church, and gathers His people from every nation. Acts is the unfolding reign of the ascended Christ.
Christ Ascended And Enthroned (Acts 1:9–11; 2:33–36): The book turns on the ascension. Having been "received up into heaven," Christ is "exalted to the right hand of God" and, having received the promised Spirit, pours Him out at Pentecost (2:33). Peter concludes that "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (2:36). This is the session of Christ — the reigning King ruling all things for His church (WCF 8.4).
Christ The Giver Of The Spirit (Acts 2:1–4, 33): Pentecost is not the Spirit acting independently but the ascended Christ keeping His promise (1:4–5). The Spirit poured out is the gift of the enthroned Son, applying the redemption He accomplished. Every conversion in Acts — Lydia's opened heart, the appointed Gentiles believing — is the work of Christ by His Spirit, the great application of His finished work.
Christ The Only Name For Salvation (Acts 4:12; 10:43): The apostolic message is relentlessly Christ-centered. "Nor is there salvation in any other" (4:12); "whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins" (10:43). Acts knows no salvation apart from the crucified and risen Jesus — the exclusive, sufficient Savior offered freely to Jew and Gentile alike.
Christ The Risen Judge Of All (Acts 10:42; 17:31): The apostles preach Jesus as the One "ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead" (10:42). At Athens Paul declares that God "will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained," giving assurance "by raising Him from the dead" (17:31). The resurrection is God's public guarantee that the reigning Christ will judge the world.
Christ Proclaimed From Jerusalem To Rome (Acts 1:8; 28:31): Acts opens in Jerusalem and closes with Paul in Rome "preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ… no one forbidding him" (28:31). The whole book is the triumphant march of the gospel of Christ to the center of the empire and outward to the nations — the reign of the ascended Lord made visible.
This is the gospel New Geneva Theological Seminary exists to guard and proclaim. Dr. Toby Holt's expository series through Acts preaches the ascended, reigning Christ chapter by chapter — tracing the sovereign advance of His Spirit-empowered church with the full weight of Westminster-confessional theology, and calling the church to the same mission and the same Savior.
The risen and ascended Christ proclaimed throughout Acts is the same Christ whose gospel of grace Paul defends in Galatians.
Study The Book Of Acts At New Geneva Theological Seminary
New Geneva Theological Seminary has equipped ministers and lay leaders in Westminster-confessional theology since 1993. Our expository preaching series through the Bible — including this study of Acts — reflects the same commitments that shape our degree programs: Scripture is the Word of God, the Westminster Standards faithfully summarize its teaching, and sound doctrine must produce pastoral practice.
Whether you are pursuing ordination in the PCA, OPC, RCUS, or other denominations — or simply want to go deeper in God's Word — New Geneva offers fully online, affordable, Reformed theological education that works around your life and calling. Degrees include the M.Div., Th.M., MACM, and D.Min., all at $300 per credit hour.
Apply Now → | Explore Degree Programs → | Support New Geneva →