The Acts
of the Apostles

Acts is a book of history of the early church, the Apostles, and the Saints—the believers who belonged to Jesus Christ. Acts continues the story begun in Luke. Jesus has risen and ascended, but His work continues through witnesses empowered by the Holy Spirit. The message moves outward from Jerusalem as people hear that the crucified Jesus is Lord and Christ, turn to Him, and become part of His people.

Who Wrote Acts?

Historic Christian tradition identifies the author as Luke, the physician and companion of Paul. Acts does not name its author. Its opening address to Theophilus and reference to an earlier account connect it with the Gospel of Luke. The passages that speak of traveling as ‘we’ have traditionally been understood as evidence that the writer accompanied Paul during parts of his journeys. That interpretation is important, but it should be distinguished from an explicit signature in the book.

Who Was Acts Written For?

The named recipient is Theophilus, also addressed in Luke’s Gospel. Beyond him, the book equips readers to understand how the proclamation of Jesus spread and why Gentile believers belong among God’s people. Acts asks its readers to listen to the witnesses, consider their testimony about the resurrection, and recognize the continuity between God’s promises and the mission of the church.

What Is Acts About?

Acts follows the spread of the good news through preaching, prayer, suffering, disputed decisions, journeys, and the formation of churches. Peter is prominent in the early chapters; Paul becomes central in the later narrative. Stephen, Philip, Barnabas, James, and many other believers also contribute. The book selects events that serve its purpose; it is not a complete biography of every apostle.

Why Was Acts Written?

Read alongside Luke’s stated purpose in Luke 1:1–4, Acts gives readers grounds for confidence in what they have been taught. The resurrection, the gift of the Spirit, the invitation to repent, and the extension of the gospel to the nations belong to one unfolding account. The speeches and trials also show how the message was explained and defended before different audiences.

When Was Acts Written?

The narrative extends from the period of Jesus’ resurrection to Paul’s two years under guarded residence in Rome, commonly placed in the early AD 60s. The date of writing is debated. Some place it near the end of that period; others place it later in the first century, often around AD 80–90. The ending does not by itself settle the date. We should distinguish the time of the events from the time when the account was completed.

Where Was Acts Written and Where Does It Take Place?

The place of composition is not identified, so this edition does not assign a definite writing location. The events begin in Jerusalem and move through Judea, Samaria, and the wider Mediterranean world, ending in Rome. Keep the actual places in view: these journeys required time, effort, supplies, and decisions about roads, ports, weather, and traveling companions.

How to Read Acts

Read each episode as part of the larger movement announced in Acts 1:8. Notice who is speaking, whom they address, what has happened, and how their words point to Jesus. Distinguish a command from an account of what particular people did. Compare related passages before treating one event as a rule for every situation. Read the TWMC paraphrase first for the flow of thought, then compare the exact KJV wording, Greek, and Romanized Greek.

Travel Distances and Measurements

Travel and measurement explanations appear in clearly labeled notes or brackets. They are editorial aids, not additional biblical text. Where a journey needs explaining, distances should follow the likely ancient road, established path, or sea route rather than a straight line on a modern map. Uncertain routes should be identified as uncertain; estimates should use sensible rounding or ranges.

Travel time depends on the travelers, terrain, elevation, weather, season, stops, and mode of travel. A distance does not establish how many days a particular journey took. We preserve times stated in Acts and label any added travel-time estimate. Familiar American units can clarify an ancient measure, while the original term and the approximate nature of the conversion remain visible when they matter.

Text and Comparison Notes

The Byzantine Greek in the project’s source edition controls this paraphrase. The KJV remains an independent comparison text; it is not silently changed to match the Greek column. Where the source edition omits wording found in the KJV, the difference must be explained rather than filled with text from a different edition. Old Testament quotations within Acts are paraphrased from Acts’ Greek wording. Supporting quotations in commentary follow the project’s separate LSB quotation policy when used.

For Deeper Study

Read Luke’s closing chapter alongside Acts 1, then follow the speeches and their scriptural references through Acts. Keep questions about wording, historical background, and interpretation together in your study notes. A separate TWMC Acts study-guide edition has not yet been completed.

Background References

Crossway introduction to Acts; USCCB introduction to Acts; USCCB introduction to Luke; NET note on Acts 1:12.