A C T S

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Not to be read on a narrow screen!

GENERAL OUTLINES

Fivefold Fractal

PART Α: The Church Established at Jerusalem (ch. 1–8:3)

Α. The Pentecostal Church (ch. 1–2)

Β. Healing of the lame man at the Temple: the chief priests forbid the Church’s preaching (ch. 3–4:22)

Χ. The Church’s prayer to God (4:23‑31)

Ο. The flowering of the Church at Jerusalem (4:32–ch. 6)

Ω. The witness of Stephen and persecution of the Church at Jerusalem (ch. 7–8:3)

PART Β: The Church Established beyond Judea — Mission to the Gentiles (8:4–ch. 11)

Α. The mission of Archdeacon Philip beyond Jerusalem  (8:4‑40)

Β. The conversion of the persecutor Saul (9:1‑31)

Χ. Peter heals a paralytic at Lydda and raises one dead nearby at Joppa (9:32‑42)

Ο. The conversion of the centurion Cornelius (9:43–11:18)

Ω. The Church at Antioch established, headed by Barnabas (11:19‑30)

PART Χ: Peter Freed from Herod’s Prison at Pascha Time (12:1‑23)

PART Ο: Paul’s Missionary Travels (12:24–ch. 20)

Α. Paul’s first journey (12:24–ch. 14)

Β. The council at Jerusalem over circumcision (15:1‑35)

Χ. Paul’s journey to Greece, and beyond the Jewish law (15:36–18:17)

Ο. Paul’s success with Jews and Greeks at Ephesus; his vow to go to Jerusalem and Rome (18:18–19:22)

Ω. Paul concludes his missionary journeys (19:23–ch. 20)

PART Ω: The Passion of Paul — From Jerusalem to Rome (ch. 21–28)

Α. Paul taken by Jews at Jerusalem and preserved by the civil authorities (ch. 21)

Β. Paul appeals to the Jews by telling them his story (22:1‑22)

Χ. Paul’s Roman citizenship saves him from the Jews (22:23–24:23)

Ο. Paul appeals to Caesar, and to King Agrippa with his story (24:24–ch. 26)

Ω. Journey by shipwreck unto Rome (ch. 27–28)

Long-Range Palistrophic

Α.Α. The Pentecostal Church (ch. 1–2)

Α.Β. Healing of the lame man at the Temple: the chief priests forbid the Church’s preaching (ch. 3–4:22)

Α.Χ. The Church’s prayer to God (4:23‑31)

Α.Ο. The flowering of the Church at Jerusalem (4:32–ch. 6)

Α.Ω. The witness of Stephen and persecution of the Church at Jerusalem (ch. 7–8:3)

Β.Α. The mission of Archdeacon Philip beyond Jerusalem  (8:4‑40)

Β.Β. The conversion of the persecutor Saul (9:1‑31)

Β.Χ. Peter heals a paralytic at Lydda and raises one dead nearby at Joppa (9:32‑42)

Β.Ο. The conversion of the centurion Cornelius (9:43–11:18)

Β.Ω. The Church at Antioch established, headed by Barnabas (11:19‑30)

Χ. Peter Freed from Herod’s Prison at Pascha Time (12:1‑23)

Ο.Α. Paul’s first journey (12:24–ch. 14)

Ο.Β. The council at Jerusalem over circumcision (15:1‑35)

Ο.Χ. Paul’s journey to Greece, and beyond the Jewish law (15:36–18:17)

Ο.Ο. Paul’s success with Jews and Greeks at Ephesus; his vow to go to Jerusalem and Rome (18:18–19:22)

Ο.Ω. Paul concludes his missionary journeys (19:23–ch. 20)

Ω.Α. Paul taken by Jews at Jerusalem and preserved by the civil authorities (ch. 21)

Ω.Β. Paul appeals to the Jews by telling them his story (22:1‑22)

Ω.Χ. Paul’s Roman citizenship saves him from the Jews (22:23–24:23)

Ω.Ο. Paul appeals to Caesar, and to King Agrippa with his story (24:24–ch. 26)

Ω.Ω. Journey by shipwreck unto Rome (ch. 27–28)

DETAILED OUTLINES

Fivefold Fractal

PART Α: The Church Established at Jerusalem (ch. 1–8:3)

Α. The Pentecostal Church (ch. 1–2)

α. The Ascension of Christ, with promise of the Spirit and the Kingdom (1:1‑11)

β. The fall of Judas and restoration of the Twelve (Peter’s speech) (1:12‑26)

χ. The descent of the Spirit (2:1‑4)

o. Peter preaches to the world the Godman’s resurrection and adds to the Church 3,000 (2:5‑41)

ω. The communion of the Church (2:42‑47)

Β. Healing of the lame man at the Temple: the chief priests forbid the Church’s preaching (ch. 3–4:22)

α. Peter and John heal a man lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple (3:1‑11)

β. Peter preaches, offering the Jews repentance for killing the Messiah, Who has risen (3:12‑26)

χ. The priests, grieved by Jesus and the resurrection, arrest the Apostles; but 5,000 believe (4:1‑4)

o. Peter preaches the resurrection of Christ before the high priests (4:5‑12)

ω. The high priests behold the miracle and are forced to release the Apostles, and yet deny Jesus (4:13‑22)

Χ. The Church’s prayer to God (4:23‑31)

α. The Church addresses the Lord God Who made heaven and earth (4:23‑24)

β. Reference to Ps. 2: the rulers’ rebellion against God and His Christ (4:25‑26)

χ. The Jews and Gentiles rejected Jesus, according to God’s plan (4:27‑28)

o. Prayer for boldness to preach and heal by Jesus’ name (4:29‑30)

ω. The place shakes and the Spirit fills them with boldness (4:31)

Ο. The flowering of the Church at Jerusalem (4:32–ch. 6)

α. The Church of one heart and soul, with great power and grace, holding all things in common (4:32‑37)

β. The fall of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1‑11)

χ. The high priest fails to imprison the Apostles and stop their preaching (Gamaliel’s speech) (5:12‑42)

o. The ordination of seven deacons (6:1‑7)

ω. The synagogue falsely accuses Stephen, who has the face of angel (6:8‑15)

Ω. The witness of Stephen and persecution of the Church at Jerusalem (ch. 7–8:3)

intro (7:1)

α. Call of Abraham (7:2‑4)

β. The land promised to his seed after bondage (7:5‑7)

χ/ξ. Circumcision covenant: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph over Egypt (7:8‑10)

o. Joseph gathers Israel in Egypt during famine (7:11‑16)

ω. New Pharaoh persecutes Israel, but Moses saved (7:17‑22)

ς. Moses kills Egyptian, but when rejected by Israelite, flees (7:23‑29)

ζ. God appears in the burning bush (7:30‑34)

η/α. Moses delivers the people and promises a prophet like him (7:35‑37)

β. Moses spake to an angel on Sina, but the people demanded a calf of Aaron (7:38‑41)

χ. Worship of Moloch and Remphan; ‘beyond Babylon’ (7:42‑43)

o. The Tabernacle brought in by Joshua becomes Solomon’s Temple (7:44‑47)

ω. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands (7:48‑50)

ς. Ye stiffnecked do always resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers (7:51‑53)

ζ. As they gnash, Stephen beholds Jesus on the right hand of God (7:54‑56)

η. The martyrdom of Stephen (Saul consenting) (7:57–8:2)

extro (8:3)

PART Β: The Church Established beyond Judea — Mission to the Gentiles (8:4–ch. 11)

Α. The mission of Archdeacon Philip beyond Jerusalem  (8:4‑40)

α. Philip preaches in a Samaritan city, exorcises and heals (8:4‑8)

β. Simon Magus had deceived the people, but they are baptized, and Simon also (8:9‑13)

χ. Peter and John come and complete their baptism in Jesus’ name with hands and Spirit (8:14‑17)

o. Peter rebukes Simon’s simony (8:18‑24)

ω. Philip sent to convert the Ethiopian eunuch on the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza (8:25‑40)

Β. The conversion of the persecutor Saul (9:1‑31)

α. The appearance of the Lord Jesus to Saul on the road to Damascus (9:1‑7)

β. Ananias sent to heal and baptize Saul (9:8‑19a)

χ. Saul preaches Christ and avoids assassination down the city wall in a basket (9:19b‑25)

o. At Jerusalem, Barnabas helps Saul join the disciples (9:26‑28)

ω. Saul’s preaching provokes the Hellenists to seek to slay him; the Church sends him to Tarsus and knows rest (9:29‑31)

Χ. Peter heals a paralytic at Lydda and raises one dead nearby at Joppa (9:32‑42)

α. At Lydda Peter heals the paralytic Aeneas (9:32‑35)

β. At Joppa, Dorcas, full of good deeds, dies and is laid in an upper chamber (9:36‑37)

χ. As Lydda is near Joppa, the disciples fetch Peter (9:38‑39a)

o. In the upper chamber, Peter is shown the coats and garments Dorcas made (9:39b)

ω. Peter raises her from the dead (9:40‑42)

Ο. The conversion of the centurion Cornelius (9:43–11:18)

α. An angel of God appears to Cornelius and tells him to send for Peter at Joppa (9:43–10:8)

β. Peter’s vision of the sheet of animals from heaven — ‘What God has cleansed, do not call common’ (10:9‑18)

χ. Peter sent by God and fetched by men; Cornelius reverences him and tells him his vision (10:19‑33)

o. Peter preaches the Gospel to the Gentiles; the Spirit descends on them and they are baptized (10:34‑48)

ω. Peter rehearses the history of Cornelius’ conversion in defense before the Church at Jerusalem (11:1‑18)

Ω. The Church at Antioch established, headed by Barnabas (11:19‑30)

α. Dispersed at Stephen’s martyrdom, disciples have success with Jews at Antioch (11:19‑21)

β. The Jerusalem Church sends Barnabas to Antioch (11:22‑24)

χ. Barnabas goes to Tarsus to fetch Saul (11:25‑26a)

o. They teach the Church at Antioch for a year and are called Christians (11:26b)

ω. Prophet Agabus foretelling famine, Barnabas and Saul take alms to Judea (11:27‑30)

PART Χ: Peter Freed from Herod’s Prison at Pascha Time (12:1‑23)

Χ. Peter Freed from Herod’s Prison at Pascha Time (12:1‑23)

α. Herod martyrs the Apostle James and imprisons Peter with the same intent (12:14)

β. Prayer is made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him (12:5)

χ. An angel frees Peter, leading him past two wards and an iron gate (12:6‑11)

o. Peter is received with joy at the house of Mary, John-Mark’s mother (12:12‑17)

ω. Herod executes the guards, is smote dead by an angel when worshipped as a god (12:18‑23)

PART Ο: Paul’s Missionary Travels (12:24–ch. 20)

Α. Paul’s first journey (12:24–ch. 14)

α. The Spirit tells the Church at Antioch to send out Barnabas and Saul (12:24–13:3)

β. On Cyprus, Paul rebukes the sorcerer Bar-jesus for turning away his friend from the faith (13:4‑12)

χ. Pisidian Antioch and Iconium: Paul preaches, Jews reject, Gentiles show interest (13:13–14:6)

o. At Lystra, after healing a cripple, Paul and Barnabas narrowly avoid being worshipped as gods (14:7‑18)

ω. Further persecution from Antioch and Iconium; they re-visit all their communities and return home (14:19‑28)

Β. The council at Jerusalem over circumcision (15:1‑35)

α. Circumcision controversy at Antioch leads Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem (15:1‑5)

β. Council convenes and Peter testifies against enforcing circumcision on Gentiles (15:6‑11)

χ. Barnabas and Paul declare the miracles God worked among the Gentiles (15:12)

o. James confirms Peter’s testimony, gives sentence accepted by all, and epistles are written (15:13‑29)

ω. The epistle resolves the controversy at Antioch (15:30‑35)

Χ. Paul’s journey to Greece, and beyond the Jewish law (15:36–18:17)

α. The route to Macedonia, blessed by God (Luke joins them at Troas) (15:36–16:18)

β. Run-in with Roman law at Philippi (16:19‑40)

χ. From base Thessalonica, to nobler Boroea, and alone to the sea (17:1‑14)

o. Encounter with Hellenic wisdom at Athens (17:15‑34)

ω. Corinth — a land beyond Jewish law and blessed by God (18:1‑17)

Ο. Paul’s success with Jews and Greeks at Ephesus; his vow to go to Jerusalem and Rome (18:18–19:22)

α. Paul’s brief visit at Ephesus, where he is begged to stay; his vow to keep feast at Jerusalem (18:18‑23)

β. Apollos’ success with Ephesian Jews by the baptism of John (18:24‑28)

χ. Paul returns to Ephesus and converts twelve disciples of Apollos, Pentecostal signs following (19:1‑7)

o. Paul’s success with Ephesian Jews and Greeks (the failed Jewish exorcist) (19:8‑20)

ω. Paul intends to go through Greece with a vow to go to Jerusalem and Rome (19:21‑22)

Ω. Paul concludes his missionary journeys (19:23–ch. 20)

α. Uproar in Ephesus over Diana cult — started by self-interest and ended by reason; Paul’s disciples prevent him from involving himself (19:23‑41)

β. Travels through Greece and back to Asia, spending Passover at Philippi (where Luke joins him) (20:1‑6)

χ. Raising fallen Eutyches back to life after a Sunday of preaching at Troas (20:7‑12)

o. Traveling the Asian coast en route to Jerusalem for Pentecost (20:13‑16)

ω. Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesians at Miletus, how he is not afraid to suffer and is clear of all guilt (20:17‑38)

PART Ω: The Passion of Paul — From Jerusalem to Rome (ch. 21–28)

Α. Paul taken by Jews at Jerusalem and preserved by the civil authorities (ch. 21)

α. Journey to Jerusalem — prophets tell of Paul’s future bondage (21:1‑17)

β. To quell controversy, James persuades Paul to purify himself at the Temple (21:18‑26)

χ. Jews seize Paul, removing him from the Temple, alleging he had brought Greeks there (21:27‑30)

o. Civil authorities preserve Paul from the Jewish mob (21:31‑34)

ω. Paul, compared by the chief captain to the Egyptian (Moses), speaking Greek and Hebrew wins the attention of all (21:35‑40)

Β. Paul appeals to the Jews by telling them his story (22:1‑22)

α. How he had been a perfect Jew (22:1‑3)

β. How he had persecuted Christians (22:4‑5)

χ. How Jesus appeared to him in light and left him blind (22:6‑11)

o. How Ananias healed and baptized him so that he could witness unto all men (22:12‑16)

ω. How Jesus appeared to him in the Temple and sent him the Gentiles — the Jews’ rejection (22:17‑22)

Χ. Paul’s Roman citizenship saves him from the Jews (22:23–24:23)

α. Paul being born a Roman saves him from interrogation by scourging (22:23‑29)

β. Given to the Jews, Paul divides the council by the teaching of the resurrection (22:30–23:10)

χ. The Lord appears to Paul, saying as he has testified in Jerusalem, so in Rome (23:11)

o. Paul saved from Jewish conspiracy by his nephews; Romans send him to Caesarea (23:12‑35)

ω. Asked for by the high priest, Paul defends himself before Felix, who decides to keep him (24:1‑23)

Ο. Paul appeals to Caesar, and to King Agrippa with his story (24:24–ch. 26)

α. Felix trembles at Paul’s preaching but desires a bribe, and to please the Jews keeps him bound (24:24‑27)

β. Festus wanting to please the Jews offers Paul judgment at Jerusalem, but he appeals to Caesar (25:1‑12)

χ. Festus briefs King Agrippa, declaring Roman (natural) law and telling of Paul’s teaching that Jesus lives (25:13‑22)

o. At the hearing Festus explains Paul’s appeal to Caesar and his want of any charge (25:23‑27)

ω. Paul appeals to Agrippa by telling him his story — and almost persuades him (ch. 26)

Ω. Journey by shipwreck unto Rome (ch. 27–28)

α. Sailing rough seas against Paul’s counsel (27:1‑20)

β. Breaking bread at sea and crashing into an island, all being saved as angel had revealed to Paul (27:21‑44)

χ. Among barbarians, Paul survives a viper from the fire without harm, convincing them he is a god (28:1‑6)

o. Healing performed for the gracious islanders (28:7‑10)

ω. Arrival at Rome where Jews refuse to be converted; Paul preaches freely (28:11‑31)

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