28 daysabout 15 minutes a day

Acts in 28 days

Acts is the second half of Luke's Gospel. Same author, same reader (a man called Theophilus), and it picks up exactly where Luke left off: Jesus going up, the disciples staring at the sky, and someone asking why. It covers roughly thirty years, from Pentecost to Paul waiting for trial in Rome, and it is the only book in the Bible that tells you how a movement of about 120 frightened people became something the Roman Empire had to deal with.

It reads like a travel story, because it is one. There are riots, shipwrecks, prison breaks, a boy falling out of a window during a sermon, a fortune-teller's slave girl, a silversmith's trade union, and a night escape in a basket. One chapter a day keeps the pace of the book. Chapters 7, 13, and 27 are long; the rest are quick. Halfway through, the writer starts saying 'we', because he was there.

Expect two halves. Peter is the main character in chapters 1 to 12, Paul in 13 to 28. Expect the church to argue, a lot: about widows, about Gentiles, about who gets to come on the trip. And expect the ending to feel unfinished, because it is. The last verse has Paul preaching 'without hindrance', and then the book just stops. Luke seems to think the story isn't over.

The schedule

Tap a passage to open that book. Read in any translation you like; the app shows each day in Gen Z beside the original.

If this fits, so might these

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Day	Read	What to notice
1	Acts 1 Jesus goes up, promising the Spirit and 'you will be witnesses to me'. The disciples stare at the sky until two men in white ask why. Then they wait, pray, and replace Judas.	Jesus goes up, promising the Spirit and 'you will be witnesses to me'. The disciples stare at the sky until two men in white ask why. Then they wait, pray, and replace Judas.
2	Acts 2 Pentecost. Wind, fire, languages, and Peter preaching to a crowd that assumed they were drunk at nine in the morning. Three thousand people, and verse 42 is what they did the next day.	Pentecost. Wind, fire, languages, and Peter preaching to a crowd that assumed they were drunk at nine in the morning. Three thousand people, and verse 42 is what they did the next day.
3	Acts 3 'I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you.' A man lame from birth walks into the temple leaping. Peter refuses to take the credit.	'I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you.' A man lame from birth walks into the temple leaping. Peter refuses to take the credit.
4	Acts 4 The first arrest. Peter and John, 'unlearned and ignorant men', tell the council they can't stop talking about what they saw. The believers pray for boldness, not safety.	The first arrest. Peter and John, 'unlearned and ignorant men', tell the council they can't stop talking about what they saw. The believers pray for boldness, not safety.
5	Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira lie about money and drop dead. An angel opens the prison. Gamaliel's advice to the council: if this is from God, you won't be able to stop it.	Ananias and Sapphira lie about money and drop dead. An angel opens the prison. Gamaliel's advice to the council: if this is from God, you won't be able to stop it.
6	Acts 6 The first church argument is about widows being overlooked at meals. Seven are chosen to fix it. Stephen's face looks 'like the face of an angel' while he's being accused.	The first church argument is about widows being overlooked at meals. Seven are chosen to fix it. Stephen's face looks 'like the face of an angel' while he's being accused.
7	Acts 7 Stephen retells Israel's whole story, Abraham to Solomon, then tells the council they resist the Spirit like their fathers did. They stone him. A young man called Saul holds the coats.	Stephen retells Israel's whole story, Abraham to Solomon, then tells the council they resist the Spirit like their fathers did. They stone him. A young man called Saul holds the coats.
8	Acts 8 Persecution scatters the church, and scattering spreads it. Philip explains Isaiah to an Ethiopian official in a chariot, who asks: 'What is keeping me from being baptized?'	Persecution scatters the church, and scattering spreads it. Philip explains Isaiah to an Ethiopian official in a chariot, who asks: 'What is keeping me from being baptized?'
9	Acts 9 Saul on the road to Damascus: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' Three days blind. Ananias is understandably nervous about going to visit him.	Saul on the road to Damascus: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' Three days blind. Ananias is understandably nervous about going to visit him.
10	Acts 10 Peter's rooftop vision of unclean animals and 'what God has cleansed, you must not call unclean'. Then a Roman centurion's household receives the Spirit before Peter finishes speaking.	Peter's rooftop vision of unclean animals and 'what God has cleansed, you must not call unclean'. Then a Roman centurion's household receives the Spirit before Peter finishes speaking.
11	Acts 11 Peter has to explain himself to Jerusalem for eating with Gentiles. Antioch grows, Barnabas goes to fetch Saul, and the disciples are first called Christians.	Peter has to explain himself to Jerusalem for eating with Gentiles. Antioch grows, Barnabas goes to fetch Saul, and the disciples are first called Christians.
12	Acts 12 James is killed, Peter is arrested, the church prays all night. When Peter knocks, Rhoda is so happy she forgets to open the gate, and they tell her she's crazy.	James is killed, Peter is arrested, the church prays all night. When Peter knocks, Rhoda is so happy she forgets to open the gate, and they tell her she's crazy.
13	Acts 13 The Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Saul for the first mission. A sorcerer goes blind, Paul preaches a long sermon in Pisidian Antioch, and John Mark goes home early.	The Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Saul for the first mission. A sorcerer goes blind, Paul preaches a long sermon in Pisidian Antioch, and John Mark goes home early.
14	Acts 14 In Lystra the crowd tries to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as gods. Not long after, they stone Paul and leave him for dead. He gets up and walks back into the city.	In Lystra the crowd tries to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as gods. Not long after, they stone Paul and leave him for dead. He gets up and walks back into the city.
15	Acts 15 The Jerusalem council: do Gentiles need to be circumcised to be saved? 'It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us.' Then Paul and Barnabas fall out over John Mark and split up.	The Jerusalem council: do Gentiles need to be circumcised to be saved? 'It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us.' Then Paul and Barnabas fall out over John Mark and split up.
16	Acts 16 Timothy joins. Lydia, a seller of purple, believes by a river. Paul and Silas sing in a Philippian jail at midnight, an earthquake opens every door, and nobody runs.	Timothy joins. Lydia, a seller of purple, believes by a river. Paul and Silas sing in a Philippian jail at midnight, an earthquake opens every door, and nobody runs.
17	Acts 17 A riot in Thessalonica, Beroeans checking the Scriptures daily, and Paul in Athens quoting their own poets: 'in him we live, move, and have our being'.	A riot in Thessalonica, Beroeans checking the Scriptures daily, and Paul in Athens quoting their own poets: 'in him we live, move, and have our being'.
18	Acts 18 Corinth. Paul makes tents with Priscilla and Aquila and stays eighteen months. 'Don't be afraid, for I have many people in this city.' Apollos gets a gentle correction.	Corinth. Paul makes tents with Priscilla and Aquila and stays eighteen months. 'Don't be afraid, for I have many people in this city.' Apollos gets a gentle correction.
19	Acts 19 Ephesus. Would-be exorcists get beaten up by a man whose demon says 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?' A silversmith starts a riot to protect the Artemis trade.	Ephesus. Would-be exorcists get beaten up by a man whose demon says 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?' A silversmith starts a riot to protect the Artemis trade.
20	Acts 20 Eutychus falls asleep in a window during Paul's sermon and drops three floors. Then Paul's tearful goodbye to the Ephesian elders: 'I didn't shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God'.	Eutychus falls asleep in a window during Paul's sermon and drops three floors. Then Paul's tearful goodbye to the Ephesian elders: 'I didn't shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God'.
21	Acts 21 Everyone warns Paul not to go to Jerusalem. He goes. Within days a mob drags him out of the temple, and Roman soldiers have to carry him up the stairs to save him.	Everyone warns Paul not to go to Jerusalem. He goes. Within days a mob drags him out of the temple, and Roman soldiers have to carry him up the stairs to save him.
22	Acts 22 Paul tells the crowd his own story in Hebrew, and they listen until he says the word 'Gentiles'. Then he mentions he was born a Roman, and the commander gets nervous.	Paul tells the crowd his own story in Hebrew, and they listen until he says the word 'Gentiles'. Then he mentions he was born a Roman, and the commander gets nervous.
23	Acts 23 Paul splits the council by bringing up the resurrection. Forty men vow not to eat until he's dead. His nephew overhears, and the Romans move him out by night with 470 soldiers.	Paul splits the council by bringing up the resurrection. Forty men vow not to eat until he's dead. His nephew overhears, and the Romans move him out by night with 470 soldiers.
24	Acts 24 Trial before Felix, who is 'terrified' when Paul talks about self-control and judgment, then keeps him locked up for two years hoping for a bribe.	Trial before Felix, who is 'terrified' when Paul talks about self-control and judgment, then keeps him locked up for two years hoping for a bribe.
25	Acts 25 Festus wants to do the Jews a favour. Paul: 'I appeal to Caesar!' King Agrippa and Bernice arrive with great pomp and ask to hear him for themselves.	Festus wants to do the Jews a favour. Paul: 'I appeal to Caesar!' King Agrippa and Bernice arrive with great pomp and ask to hear him for themselves.
26	Acts 26 Paul's defense before Agrippa, the third telling of the Damascus road. Festus shouts that he's insane. Agrippa: 'With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?'	Paul's defense before Agrippa, the third telling of the Damascus road. Festus shouts that he's insane. Agrippa: 'With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?'
27	Acts 27 A shipwreck, told in detail by someone who was on board. Fourteen days without sun or stars. Paul breaks bread in the storm, and all 276 people reach land.	A shipwreck, told in detail by someone who was on board. Fourteen days without sun or stars. Paul breaks bread in the storm, and all 276 people reach land.
28	Acts 28 A viper on Malta, then Rome at last. The book ends with Paul under house arrest, teaching 'with all boldness, without hindrance'. No ending. The story keeps going.	A viper on Malta, then Rome at last. The book ends with Paul under house arrest, teaching 'with all boldness, without hindrance'. No ending. The story keeps going.