Chronological NT Plan

Acts 1-3

Acts 1

1I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach

2until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

3After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about;

5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”

6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

7He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

9After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

10While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.

11They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem — a Sabbath day’s journey away.

13When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

14They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters  — the number of people who were together was about a hundred and twenty — and said:

16“Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

17For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”

18Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out.

19This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, Field of Blood).

20“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his dwelling become desolate; let no one live in it; and Let someone else take his position.

21“Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us —

22beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us — from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

23So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.

24Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen

25to take the place in this apostolic ministry that Judas left to go where he belongs.”

26Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 2

1When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.

2Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.

3They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them.

4Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

5Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven.

6When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

7They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

8How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language?

9Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts),

11Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.”

12They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

13But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.”

14Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words.

15For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning.

16On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

18I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those days, both men and women and they will prophesy.

19I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.

20The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

22“Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know.

23Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.

24God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death.

25For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope,

27because you will not abandon me in Hades or allow your holy one to see decay.

28You have revealed the paths of life to me; you will fill me with gladness in your presence.

29“Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

30Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne.

31Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.

32“God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this.

33Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear.

34For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand

35until I make your enemies your footstool.’

36“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

37When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what should we do?”

38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

40With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

41So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.

44Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.

45They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.

46Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,

47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Acts 3

1Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon.

2A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple.

3When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money.

4Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.”

5So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them.

6But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

7Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.

8So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them — walking, leaping, and praising God.

9All the people saw him walking and praising God,

10and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

11While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astonished, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade.

12When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness?

13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to release him.

14You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you.

15You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this.

16By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.

17“And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did.

18In this way God fulfilled what he had predicted through all the prophets — that his Messiah would suffer.

19Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out,

20that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.

21Heaven must receive him until the time of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about through his holy prophets from the beginning.

22Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers and sisters. You must listen to everything he tells you.

23And everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be completely cut off from the people.

24“In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also foretold these days.

25You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.

26God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”