It Seemed Good
The group decided to read the Book of Acts on their own, then come back together to discuss what they noticed, what they will carry into daily life, and how the disciples and apostles made decisions.
Overview of the Book of Acts
Acts continues the story told in Luke’s Gospel: the risen Jesus commissions his witnesses, the Holy Spirit empowers them, and the good news moves from Jerusalem toward the nations. Acts 1:8 gives the broad geography: Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Peter is prominent early; Paul becomes central later. The story includes sermons, conversions, shared life, conflict, journeys, and trials.
| Chapters | Movement | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Beginning & empowerment | Ascension, Matthias, Pentecost, Peter’s sermon, and the first community. |
| 3–7 | Witness in Jerusalem | Healing, preaching, opposition, generosity, Ananias and Sapphira, the Seven, and Stephen’s death. |
| 8–12 | Crossing boundaries | Samaria, the Ethiopian, Saul’s conversion, Cornelius, Antioch, and Peter’s rescue. |
| 13–14 | Mission & new churches | Antioch sends Barnabas and Paul; they preach, endure opposition, and appoint elders. |
| 15 | Discernment & disagreement | The Jerusalem Council addresses Gentile belonging; Paul and Barnabas then part over Mark. |
| 16–20 | Widening mission & pastoral care | Macedonia, Philippi, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, and Paul’s farewell to the elders. |
| 21–26 | Arrest & public testimony | Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem, defenses before rulers, and appeal to Caesar. |
| 27–28 | Witness reaches Rome | Storm, shipwreck, Malta, and proclamation in Rome while Paul remains under guard. |
These groupings are a reading aid. Acts ends with the gospel still being proclaimed; it does not narrate the end of Paul’s life or the completion of the church’s mission.
Key Theological Points
Historical readings of Acts: brief quotations in English translation, followed by their connection to the text.
One God keeps his promises · Acts 2:22–36; 3:13–26
“the promise which God made to the fathers had been fulfilled by Jesus”
— Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 180), Against Heresies III.12.3
Israel’s God is the Father who raises Jesus. The gospel fulfills God’s earlier promises.
The risen Christ continues to act · Acts 1:1–11; 9:1–19
“Christ here in the Acts still works in men as He did in the Gospels”
— John Chrysostom (c. 400), Homily 1 on Acts
Jesus’ ascension does not end his ministry. The living Lord calls, sends, heals, and sustains his witnesses.
The Holy Spirit acts personally · Acts 2:1–18; 13:1–4
“Himself speaking, and working, and dispensing, and sanctifying”
— Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 350), Catechetical Lecture 17.5
Cyril reads the apostolic witness as teaching the Spirit’s real personal activity, in unity with the Father and Son.
Salvation is received through Christ’s grace · Acts 15:7–11
“men have righteousness from another, and not from themselves”
— John Calvin (1554), Commentary on Acts 15:9
Peter grounds the salvation of Jews and Gentiles alike in Jesus’ grace; Gentiles need not become Jews to belong.
God gathers the nations into his people · Acts 10–11; 15:13–19
“he maketh God the author of the calling of the Gentiles”
— John Calvin (1554), Commentary on Acts 15:14
The church’s widening fellowship begins with God’s initiative. The community must recognize those God has welcomed.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Question #1
What stood out to you as you read Acts?
Discussion Question #2
What will you carry from your reading into daily life?
Discussion Question #3
How did the disciples and apostles discern what to do?
Read these scenes alongside It Seemed Good — How the Apostles Made Decisions, which frames this discussion. Compare the reasons people give, who participates, and how they respond when the next step is unclear.
Scripture, qualifications, prayer, and a lot · Acts 1:15–26
show which one of these two you have chosen
Acts 1:24.
Peter reads the Psalms; the community identifies qualified witnesses and nominates two, then prays and casts lots. They do not choose from an unlimited field at random. This occurs before Pentecost; Acts records no later use of lots.
A practical need and the community’s judgment · Acts 6:1–6
men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom
Acts 6:3.
Neglected widows prompt a response. The Twelve state the work and qualifications; the disciples choose the Seven; the apostles pray and lay hands on them. Luke reports no revealed list of names. Character and competence matter.
Direct guidance, followed by understanding · Acts 8:26–40; 9:10–19; 10–11
Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.
Acts 8:29.
Philip follows an angel’s instruction and the Spirit’s word. Ananias voices his fear about Saul before obeying. Peter ponders his vision, meets Cornelius, sees the Spirit given, and explains the events to the church. Receiving guidance does not eliminate questions, interpretation, or accountability.
Worship, fasting, prayer, and commissioning · Acts 13:1–4; 14:21–23
Separate Barnabas and Saul for me
Acts 13:2.
The Spirit speaks as Antioch’s prophets and teachers worship and fast. They pray, fast again, lay on hands, and send. Later, elders are appointed with prayer and fasting without a reported vision. Acts includes both explicit direction and deliberate appointment.
Debate, testimony, Scripture, and shared judgment · Acts 15:1–35
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us
Acts 15:28.
The council hears the circumcision dispute. Peter recalls God’s gift to Gentiles; Barnabas and Paul report the mission; James reads the evidence alongside Amos and offers a judgment. The apostles, elders, and whole church choose messengers and send a letter. Their conclusion follows real deliberation; it does not bypass it.
Planning, redirection, and a conclusion reached together · Acts 16:1–10
concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them
Acts 16:10.
Paul selects the well-regarded Timothy. The team tries routes that the Spirit blocks. After Paul’s Macedonian vision, the group concludes where to go. Luke names the Spirit as the source of the prohibitions but does not tell us how they experienced them. This passage cannot establish one universal test of guidance.
Ordinary prudence and revisable plans · Acts 18:21; 20:3, 13, 16; 27:22–38
I will return again to you if God wills.
Acts 18:21.
Paul plans travel, adjusts a route because of a plot, and considers timing. In the storm, a divine promise of survival still leaves sailors needing to stay aboard and everyone needing food. Trust in providence includes practical action; they do not wait for an oracle about every logistical choice.
Disagreement without a narrated winner · Acts 15:36–41
the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other
Acts 15:39.
Barnabas wants to take Mark; Paul judges that unwise after Mark’s earlier departure. They form separate teams. Luke does not report a revelation settling the dispute or declare either man right. The council’s agreement does not mean believers will always reach unanimity.
The hard case: Paul’s journey to Jerusalem · Acts 20–21
Paul says he goes bound by the Spirit
(20:22). Yet the disciples at Tyre say
through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem
(21:4). Agabus predicts
imprisonment; Paul’s companions plead with him to stay; he continues, and they finally say,
The Lord’s will be done.
(21:14).
Chrysostom, Homily 45 on Acts, understands the warning as revealed danger and the plea to stay as the disciples’ application. Another reading takes 21:4 as a prohibition Paul resisted. Luke does not explicitly pronounce Paul’s journey sinful; the Lord later confirms his witness in Rome (23:11). Keep the textual tension visible: a warning, its interpretation, and the action it calls for are not always the same thing.
Bring it into the room: Choose one scene and name what the people knew, what they had to judge, and what remained uncertain. Then consider a real decision in your life: what might prayer, Scripture, wise counsel, character, and practical responsibility contribute?