Reading Plan

Reading Plan for Acts

As we walk through the book of Acts, we want to encourage each person in our church to read through this book thoughtfully and prayerfully with our minds open to being transformed and our hearts available to be moved.

We’ve broken the book of Acts into 48 sections. Some of us will sit down and read this book in one sitting, others will methodically read a section each day for 48 days. Others, will be more free-spirited; missing a few days, reading several in a row, and then coming back again and again. This isn’t a chore to do for God, but an invitation to a feast on the living Word and the story of the Church participating in the Mission of God.

Also, reading the Bible isn’t always easy—often it’s hard! We have a guide with a template and tips to help you study, reflect, and grow through your times of reading the Scripture. We also think the Book of Acts lends itself well to the Ignatian prayer practice which invites you to place yourself within the narratives as an observer.

Reading Plan

Reading 1 | Acts 1

Reading 2 | Acts 2:1-21

Reading 3 | Acts 2:22-41

Reading 4 | Acts 2:42-47

Reading 5 | Acts 3

Reading 6 | Acts 4:1-31

Reading 7 | Acts 4:32-5:11

Reading 8 | Acts 5:12-42

Reading 9 | Acts 6

Reading 10 | Acts 7

Reading 11 | Acts 8:1-8

Reading 12 | Acts 8:9-25

Reading 13 | Acts 8:26-40

Reading 14 | Acts 9:1-18

Reading 15 | Acts 9:19-31

Reading 16 | Acts 9:32-43

Reading 17 | Acts 10

Reading 18 | Acts 11:1-18

Reading 19 | Acts 11:19-30

Reading 20 | Acts 12

Reading 21 | Acts 13:1-12

Reading 22 | Acts 13:13-41

Reading 23 | Acts 13:42-52

Reading 24 | Acts 14

Reading 25 | Acts 15:1-21

Reading 26 | Acts 15:22-41

Reading 27 | Acts 16:1-15

Reading 28 | Acts 16:16-40

Reading 29 | Acts 17:1-15

Reading 30 | Acts 17:16-34

Reading 31 | Acts 18

Reading 32 | Acts 19:1-22

Reading 33 | Acts 19:23-41

Reading 34 | Acts 20:1-12

Reading 35 | Acts 20:13-38

Reading 36 | Acts 21:1-26

Reading 37 | Acts 21:27-40

Reading 38 | Acts 22:1-29

Reading 39 | Acts 22:30-23:11

Reading 40 | Acts 23:12-35

Reading 41 | Acts 24

Reading 42 | Acts 25:1-22

Reading 43 | Acts 25:23-26:32

Reading 44 | Acts 27:1-26

Reading 45 | Acts 27:27-44

Reading 46 | Acts 28:1-10

Reading 47 | Acts 28:11-22

Reading 48 | Acts 28:23-30

Ignatian Praying of the Scriptures

“I think much of our hunger for spectacle and hype comes from a lack of imagination. To find ourselves captivated by the Christian life and captivated by the Scriptures requires an active mind and an engaged imagination. It’s the imagination that brings this world to life.” 

- Mike Cosper in Recapturing the Wonder

Ignatius of Loyola taught his followers to read the Gospels with an active imagination. Hear the story of Jesus healing a paralytic or talking with the woman at the well, and imagine yourself in the story, encountering Jesus, hearing his healing words as if he were saying them to you. Hear it as if you were the paralytic or as if you were a bystander. Feel the heat of the sun, the weariness of a journey on a long road, the shame of sin and exposure, the judgement and condemnation from religious professionals, and imagine Jesus. What might he sound like? Does he touch you as he passes? Does he look you in the eyes? What do you hear? What do you feel?

How to practice

  • Create time and space to be alone

  • Set a timer (start with 3-5 minutes)

  • Start by calming down your body and mind

  • Pray a short breath prayer a few times

  • Take a short passage (a story from the Gospels, for example)

  • Read it a couple of times (silently or out loud)

  • Allow your mind to wander into that world: think of the smells, the sights, the tastes, the touches.

  • When the timer goes off, take another moment to pray and reflect

    • What struck you?

    • What part of the story might be worth coming back later in the day?

  • Repeat this practice. It gets richer.

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