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Acts

28 chapters

The Argument of the Book of Acts →
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Chapter summaries

The Douay-Rheims’ own argument for each chapter. Tap a number above to read.

  1. 1Christ now ready to ascend, biddeth the Apostles to expect the Holy Ghost which he had promised, foretelling where (being strengthened by him) they should begin his Church, and how far they should carry it. 9 After his Ascension they are returned by two Angels to set their minds upon his second coming. 12 In the days of their expectation, 15 Peter beginneth to exercise his Vicarship, giving instruction and order, by which Matthias is elected Apostle in the place of Judas.
  2. 2The Holy Ghost coming to the Faithful upon Whitsunday, 5 Jews in Jerusalem of all Nations do wonder to hear them speak all tongues. 10 And Peter to the deriders declareth, that it is not drunkenness, but the Holy Ghost which Joel did prophecy of, which JESUS (whom they crucified) being now risen again and ascended (as he sheweth also out of the Scriptures) hath poured out from heaven, concluding therefore that he is CHRIST, and they most horrible murderers. 37 Whereat they being compunct, and submitting themselves, he telleth them that they must be baptized, and then they also shall receive the same Holy Ghost, as being promised to all that baptized. 41 And so 3000 are baptized that very day. Whose godly exercises are here reported, and also their living in such perfection. The Apostles working many miracles, and God daily increaseth the number of the Church.
  3. 3A miracle, and a Sermon of Peter's to the people, shewing that JESUS is Christ, and exhorting them to faith in him and penance for their sins, and so they shall have by him (in Baptism) the Benediction which was promised to Abraham.
  4. 4The Rulers of the Jews oppose themselves and imprison Peter and John. 4 But yet thousands of the people are converted: 5 and to the Rulers also, Peter boldly avoucheth by the foresaid miracle, that JESUS Christ, telling them of their heinous fault out of the Psalm, and that without him they cannot be saved. 12 They though confounded with the miracle, yet proceed in their obstinacy, forbidding them to speak any more of JESUS, adding also threats. 23 Whereupon the Church falleth to prayer, wherein they comfort themselves with the omnipotency of God, and prediction of David, and ask for the gift of boldness and miracles against those threats. 31 And God sheweth miraculously that he hath heard their prayer. 32 The whole Church's unity and community of life. 36 Of Barnabas by name.
  5. 5Ananias and his wife Saphira, for their sacrilege, at Peter's word fall down dead, to the great terror of the rest. 12 By the Apostles' miracles, not only the number, but also their faith so increaseth, that they seek in the streets to the very shadow of Peter, the towns also about bringing their diseased to Jerusalem. 17 The Rulers again oppose themselves, but in vain. 19 For out of prison an Angel delivereth them, bidding them preach openly to all: 21 and in their Council Peter is nothing afraid of their big words: 34 Yea Gamaliel being one of themselves casteth a doubt among them, telleth the matter be of God, and therefore impossible to be dissolved. 40 Finally, the Apostles being scourged by them, count it an honour, and cease no day from preaching.
  6. 6By occasion of a murmur in the Church (whose number now is so grown that it cannot be numbered) Seven of them being ordered by the Apostles in the holy order of Deacons: 8 one of them, Stephen, worketh great miracles: and is by such as he confounded in disputation, falsely accused in the Council, of blasphemy against the Temple and rites thereof.
  7. 7Stephen being permitted to answer, beginning at Abraham, sheweth that God was with their fathers both in other places, and also long before the Temple, and that after it was built, it could not be (as they grossly imagined) a house for God to dwell in. 51 then he inveigheth against their stiff-neckedness, and telleth them boldly of their traitorous murdering of Christ, as their fathers had done his Prophets afore him. 55 Whereat they being vexed, he seeth heaven open, and JESUS there in his Divine Majesty. 57 Whereat they become more mad, so that they stone him to death (Saul consenting) he commending his soul to JESUS, and humbly praying for them.
  8. 8So far is persecution from prevailing against the Church, that by it the Church groweth from Jerusalem into all Jewry and Samaria. 5 The second of the Deacons, Philip, converteth with his miracles the city itself of Samaria, and baptizeth them, even Simon Magus also himself among the rest, 14 But the Apostles Peter and John are the Ministers to give them the Holy Ghost. 18 Which ministry Simon Magus would buy of them. 26 The same Philip being sent of an Angel to a great man of Ethiopia, Who came a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, first catechizeth him: 36 and then (he professing his faith and desiring Baptism) doth also baptize him.
  9. 9Saul not content to persecute so cruelly in Jerusalem, 3 is in the way to Damascus told by our Lord JESUS of his vain attempt, and miraculously converted to be an Apostle: and after great penance, restored to his sight by Ananias, and baptized. 20 And presently he dealeth mightily against the Jews, proving JESUS to be Christ, to their great admiration. 23 But such is their obstinacy, that they lay at Damascus to kill him, 26 From thence he goeth to Jerusalem, and there joineth with the Apostles, and again by the obstinate Jews his death is sought. 31 The Church being now grown over all Jewry, Galilee, and Samaria, Peter visiteth all: and in his visitation, 33 healing a lame man, 36 and raising a dead woman, converteth very many.
  10. 10Because the Jews so much abhorred the Gentiles, for the better warrant of their Christening, an Angel appeareth to Cornelius the devout Italian, 9 and a vision is shewed to Peter himself (the chief and Pastor of all) 19 and the Spirit speaketh to him, 30 yea and as he is Catechizing them about JESUS, 44 the holy Ghost cometh visibly upon them: and therefore not fearing any longer the offense of the Jews, he commandeth to baptize them.
  11. 11The Christian Jews reprehend the foresaid fact of Peter in baptizing the Gentiles, 4 But he alleging his foresaid warrants, and showing plainly that it was of God, 18 they like good Catholics do yield. 19 By the foresaid persecution, the Church is yet further dilated, not only into all Jewry, Galilee, and Samaria, but also into other Countries: specially in Antioch of Syria the increase among the Greeks, is notable, first by the foresaid dispersed, 22 then by Barnabas, thirdly by him and Saul together: so that there beginneth the name of Christians: 27 with perfect unity between them and the Church that was before them at Jerusalem.
  12. 12Herod the first king that persecuted the Church, having at Jerusalem (when Barnabas and Saul were there with the collection of the Antiochians) killed James the Apostle, and to please the Jews imprisoned Peter with the mind to kill him also, but frustrate by an Angel sent of God at the continual prayers of the Church made for her chief Pastor, 19 being puffed up with such pride that at Caesaria he refuseth not to be honoured as God: 23 is miraculously stroken of God's Angel. 20 And so after the persecuters' death, the Church preaching prospereth exceedingly.
  13. 13The preachers of the Church of Antioch preparing themselves, the Holy Ghost out of them all, chooseth Saul and Barnabas. 2 They being first consecrated Bishops, and go their appointed circuit over all the land of Cyprus, the Proconsul whereof is also converted, seeing the miraculous execration of a Jew by Paul. 13 Thence, into Pamphylia: 14 and Pisidia, where in Antioch Paul preacheth to the Jews, besieging that JESUS is Christ, 38 and that in him is salvation, and not in their Law of Moyses: 44 warning them to beware of the reprobation foretold by the Prophets. 46 But the next Sabbath, they blaspheming, he in plain terms forsaketh them, and turneth to the Gentiles. Whereas the Gentiles be as glad on the contrary side. 50 Finally the Jews raising persecution, they forsake them, pronouncing them to be obstinate contemners.
  14. 14Next in Iconium they preach, where many being converted of both sorts, the obstinate Jews raise persecution. 6 Then in the towns of Lycaonia, where the Heathen first seeing that Paul had healed one born lame, are hardly persuaded but they are Gods. 18 but afterward, by the instigation of the malicious Jews, they stone Paul, leaving him for dead. 20 And so having done their circuit, they return the same way confirming the Christians, and making Priests for every Church. 25 And being come home to Antioch in Syria, they report all to the Church there.
  15. 15Some of those Jews also that were Christians, do fall, and are authors of the Heresy of Judaizing. 2 They refer the matter to Council: 7 Wherein after great disputation, Peter striking the stroke, 12 and other confirming his sentence with miracles, 13 and with Scriptures: 22 the Apostles and Priests do write and command in the name of the Holy Ghost what is to be done. 30 And the faithful thereby are straightways quieted in mind. 36 After which, Paul and Barnabas thinking to go again their above said circuit together, are by occasion of Marke parted, to the greater increase of the Church.
  16. 16Paul having for his part visited the Churches of Syria, Cilicia, and Lycaonia, delivering unto them withal to keep the Decrees of the Council: 6 beginneth a new journey, over Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia: 8 Yea into Europe also he passeth, admonished by a vision, and cometh into Macedonia, 12 and there he beginneth the Church of the Philippians, working miracles, and suffering persecution.
  17. 17How in other parts of Macedonia he planted the Church, and namely at Thessalonica, 5 where the obstinate Jews are so malicious, that they pursue him also into Berœa. 14 From whence being conducted into Greece, he preacheth at Athens both to the Jews and Gentiles, disputing with the Philosophers, 19 and in Areopagus, persuading them from their Idols unto one God and JESUS CHRIST raised from the dead.
  18. 18At Corinth in Achaia, he worketh with his own hands, preaching JESUS to be CHRIST, unto the Jews upon their Sabbaths. 6 But they being obstinate and blaspheming, he in plain terms forsaketh them, and turneth to the Gentiles, 9 (whom according to a vision that he had he comforteth) he planteth the Church in great numbers, 12 the obstinate Jews in vain soliciting the Provost against him. 18 From thence at length departing he returneth 19 by Ephesus (where he promiseth the Jews to return to them) 22 and so to Antioch in Syria (from whence he began his journey Act. 15) 23 but not resting, by and by he goeth again to visit the new Churches that he planted Act. 16 in Galatia and Phrygia: 26 Apollo in his absence mightily confounding the Jews at Ephesus, 27 and afterward at Corinth.
  19. 19How Paul began the Church of Ephesus, first in 12 that were baptized with John's baptism, 8 then preaching three months in the Synagogue of the Jews, until for their obstinacy and blaspheming, he forsook them, disputing afterward in a certain school for two years' space to the marvellous increase of the Church, specially through his great miracles also, in healing diseases with the touches of his clothes, and expelling devils, 13 who yet contemned the Exorcists of the Jews. 18 How the Christians there confess their acts, and burn their unlawful books: 21 and how he foretold that after he had been at Jerusalem, he must go to Rome, 23 and what a great sedition was raised against him at Ephesus, by them that get their living working to the idolatrous Temple of Diana.
  20. 20Having visited the Churches of Macedonia and Achaia (as he purposed *Act.* 19) and now about to sail from Corinth toward Jerusalem, because of the Jews lying in wait for him, he is constrained to return into Macedonia. 6 And so at Philippos taking boat, cometh to Troas, where upon the Sunday, with a sermon, and a miracle, he greatly confirmeth that Church. 13 Thence coming to Miletum, 17 he sendeth to Ephesus for the Clergy of those parts: to whom he maketh a Pastoral sermon, committing unto their charge the flock begun by him there, and now like to be seen of him no more, considering the troubles that by revelation he looketh for at Jerusalem.
  21. 21From Miletum going on his journey, 4 he can not be dissuaded neither at Tyre, 7 nor at Caesarea (upon both which places the Holy Ghost revealed how he should be handled in Jerusalem,) 10 the Prophet Agabus expressly foretelling that the Jews there should deliver him to the Gentiles) 15 but to Jerusalem he cometh: where being welcome to the Christians, and namely to James the Bishop, and to the Priest, while he goeth about to satisfy the Christian Jews there, who had been misinformed of him as if he had taught it to be unlawful for the Jews to keep Moyses' Law: 27 he is invaded by the infidel Jews, and ready to be murdered by them, until the Roman soldiers do rescue him.
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