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The key moments of the book, in order, one picture at a time.
Acts 1:6-11
The Ascension
Jesus is with his disciples, on a hill near Jerusalem. The disciples ask him, "Lord, is it now that you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Jesus answers, "It is not for you to know the times that the Father has set. But you will receive power, the power of the Holy Spirit. Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
As soon as he finishes speaking, he rises into the air. A cloud surrounds him and hides him from their sight. The disciples stand there, staring up at the sky, amazed.
Suddenly, two men dressed in white appear beside them. They say, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up at the sky? This Jesus will come back, in the same way you saw him go."
Acts 2:1-13
Pentecost
It is the feast of Pentecost. The apostles are gathered in a house in Jerusalem. Suddenly, a violent noise fills the room, like a mighty wind. Small flames appear and rest on each person's head. The Holy Spirit comes down upon them.
Then a miracle happens. The apostles begin to speak in languages they have never learned. Outside, the city is full of pilgrims from every nation. Each one hears the apostles speaking his own language! A Parthian, a Mede, a man from Rome, all understand the message.
The crowd is amazed. Some ask, "What is happening?" Others mock, "They have had too much wine!" Then Peter stands up and speaks loudly, "No, these men are not drunk. What you see is the Spirit of God promised by the prophets." That day, the Church is born.
Acts 3:1-10
Healing of the Lame Man
Peter and John go up to the temple to pray. It is the afternoon hour. At the Beautiful Gate, a man lame from birth is waiting. Every day, friends carry him there so he can beg. When he sees Peter and John, he holds out his hand.
Peter looks straight into his eyes. So does John. Peter says to him, "Look at us." The man expects to receive money. But Peter declares, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have, I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"
Peter takes his right hand and lifts him up. At once, the man's feet and ankles become strong. He stands, he walks, he jumps for joy! He goes into the temple with Peter and John, walking and praising God aloud. All who recognize him are astonished and filled with wonder at what has happened to him.
Acts 5:1-10
Ananias and Sapphira
In the young community, believers share everything. Ananias and his wife Sapphira sell a field. Together, they decide to keep part of the money, but to say they are giving the whole amount.
Ananias brings the money and lays it before the apostles. Peter looks at him and says, "Ananias, why have you lied to the Holy Spirit? The field was yours. You could have kept the money. You have not lied to men, but to God." At these words, Ananias falls down dead. The young men wrap him up and carry him out to bury him.
Three hours later, Sapphira arrives. She knows nothing. Peter asks her, "Tell me, did you sell the field for this price?" She answers, "Yes, that price." Peter says, "Why did you agree together to lie? Those who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too." At once, she falls down and dies. Great fear seizes the whole Church.
Acts 7:54-60
Martyrdom of Stephen
Stephen has just spoken before the Jewish council. His words have angered the leaders. But he looks up toward the sky. He sees a light, the glory of God, and Jesus standing beside God. He says, "I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
The leaders cannot bear these words. They cover their ears and shout. Together, they rush at Stephen. They drag him out of the city. Witnesses lay their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. Then they throw stones at Stephen.
As they stone him, Stephen prays, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." He falls to his knees and cries out loudly, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Then he dies. That day, a great persecution begins against the Church in Jerusalem. The believers scatter into the countryside, and everywhere they go, they tell the good news of Jesus.
Acts 9:1-9
Conversion of Saul
Saul hates the disciples of Jesus. He wants them arrested and thrown into prison. He sets out for Damascus with letters that give him this power.
On the road, a light from the sky suddenly blinds him. Saul falls to the ground. A voice speaks to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He asks, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice answers, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Saul gets up. He opens his eyes, but he can see nothing. He has become blind. His traveling companions take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. For three days, Saul remains without eating or drinking, plunged into darkness, shaken by what he has just experienced.
Acts 10:1-48
Peter and Cornelius
In Caesarea lives a man named Cornelius. He is a Roman centurion, not a Jew, but a good man who prays to God. One day, an angel appears to him and says, "Send for Peter in Joppa."
At the same time, in Joppa, Peter has a strange vision. The sky opens. A large sheet comes down, full of animals that Jewish law forbids eating. A voice says, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat." Peter refuses, shocked. The voice answers, "What God has made clean, do not call impure."
Cornelius's messengers arrive just then. Peter understands the message: he must no longer look down on anyone. He goes with them to Cornelius's house and tells him about Jesus. While he is speaking, the Holy Spirit comes down on the whole household, Jews and non-Jews together. Peter baptizes them. The Gospel now opens to all nations.
Acts 12:6-11
Peter's Escape from Prison
Peter is sleeping in prison. King Herod wants to put him to death, as he has already killed James. Two soldiers flank him, bound by two chains. Other guards watch the door. Outside, the Church is praying for him, day and night.
Suddenly, a light bursts into the cell. An angel stands there. He strikes Peter on the side and wakes him. "Get up quickly!" he says. The chains fall from Peter's hands. The angel adds, "Put on your belt and your sandals. Take your cloak, and follow me."
Peter obeys, but he thinks he is dreaming. They pass the first guard, then the second. The great iron gate opens by itself. They walk down a street, then the angel suddenly vanishes.
Then Peter understands. It was not a dream. "Now I know that the Lord has sent his angel," he says. "He has rescued me from Herod's hand."
Acts 15:1-29
Council of Jerusalem
Some men arrive in Antioch. They tell the non-Jewish believers, "To be saved, you must be circumcised, as the law of Moses requires." This causes a dispute. Paul the Apostle and Barnabas disagree. It is decided to go to Jerusalem to put the question to the apostles and elders.
In Jerusalem, Paul the Apostle and Barnabas tell what God has done among the Gentiles. But some believers, former Pharisees, insist, "They must be told to obey the Jewish law." Peter stands up. He reminds them that God gave his Spirit to the Gentiles without asking this of them. James, the leader of the Jerusalem Church, proposes a simple solution.
A letter is written. It tells the non-Jews not to follow the whole Jewish law, but only to avoid certain things: meat offered to idols, blood, strangled animals, and sexual immorality. Trusted men, Judas and Silas, carry this letter to Antioch. The believers there are filled with joy when they read it.
Acts 27:39-44
Paul's Shipwreck
The ship has been caught in the storm for days. In the morning, the sailors see a coast with a sandy beach. They do not know where they are, but they decide to run the ship aground there, to save their lives.
They cut the anchors, untie the rudder, hoist a small sail. The ship moves toward the shore. But it strikes a sandbar. The bow stays stuck, and the stern begins to break apart under the waves.
The soldiers want to kill the prisoners, so that none can escape by swimming. But the centurion Julius wants to save Paul the Apostle. He gives the opposite order: "Those who can swim, jump first! The rest, hold onto planks!"
All obey. One by one, the two hundred seventy-six men reach land. No one dies. Paul the Apostle is safe and sound. Nothing, not even the sea, could stop his journey to Rome.
