The spread of the early Christian movement from Jerusalem to Rome.
Acts, a sequel to Luke's Gospel, narrates the growth of the early church over roughly three decades, from events in Jerusalem after Jesus' death to Paul's arrival in Rome under guard.
The book opens with the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and Peter addressing crowds in Jerusalem. It describes an early community that shared possessions, drew converts, and soon clashed with temple authorities, leading to arrests and the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Persecution scatters believers into Samaria and beyond. Peter is depicted baptizing a Roman officer, and the church at Antioch begins accepting non-Jewish members. A council in Jerusalem decides that Gentile converts need not adopt the full Jewish law, a turning point the narrative treats as decisive.
The second half follows Paul on journeys through Asia Minor and Greece, founding and revisiting congregations, debating in synagogues and marketplaces, and facing riots, imprisonment, and shipwreck. It ends with Paul under house arrest in Rome, still teaching, with his fate left unresolved.