The phrase “which acts are part of the biblical story” usually refers to the Book of Acts (full name: Acts of the Apostles), which is a New Testament book that continues the story after the four Gospels and shows what happens with Jesus’ followers and the early church.

What “Acts” Means Here

In this context, “Acts” is not individual deeds, but a specific biblical book that narrates key events after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. It is the fifth book of the New Testament and functions as a “Part 2” to the Gospel of Luke, written by the same author.

Core Acts in the Biblical Story

These are the major “acts” (events) that form the storyline in the Book of Acts and are therefore part of the wider biblical story:

  • Jesus’ ascension and promise of the Spirit
    Acts opens with the risen Jesus appearing to his disciples, instructing them, and ascending into heaven, while promising they will receive power from the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses.
  • Pentecost and coming of the Holy Spirit
    At the Jewish feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit comes on Jesus’ followers, they speak in many languages, and Peter preaches to the crowds; this is often described as the “birth” of the church.
  • Growth of the Jerusalem church
    The disciples continue teaching, healing, and sharing possessions, forming a new community centered on Jesus as Messiah; opposition from religious authorities begins at the same time.
  • Appointment of new leaders and Stephen’s martyrdom
    Seven servants (often called deacons) are appointed to help care for the community’s needs; Stephen, one of them, gives a long speech and becomes the first Christian martyr, sparking persecution.
  • Persecution and spread beyond Jerusalem
    Persecution forces many believers out of Jerusalem, which ironically helps the message spread into regions like Judea and Samaria, fulfilling Jesus’ earlier commission.
  • Conversion of Saul (Paul)
    Saul, a fierce persecutor of the church, experiences a dramatic vision on the road to Damascus and becomes Paul, a leading missionary; this event is so central that Acts retells it multiple times.
  • Mission to non‑Jews (Gentiles)
    Through visions and encounters (such as Peter and the centurion Cornelius), the early believers come to see that non‑Jewish people are also included without first becoming Jews, expanding the story to all nations.
  • Paul’s missionary journeys
    Paul and his coworkers travel throughout the Roman Empire, planting communities, teaching, and facing intense opposition, demonstrating how the message moves from a small Jewish movement to a broader, multi-ethnic faith.
  • Tensions, councils, and internal debates
    Early followers debate issues like circumcision and law-keeping; gatherings such as the Jerusalem council (Acts 15) decide how Gentile believers fit into God’s people.
  • Paul’s arrests and journey to Rome
    The narrative closes with Paul under arrest, using trials and hearings as platforms for witness, and finally arriving in Rome, symbolizing that the message has reached the heart of the empire.

Why These Acts Matter for the “Biblical Story”

  • They link the Gospels (Jesus’ life) and the letters (early Christian teaching) by showing how the first communities actually formed and lived.
  • They show a transition from a small Jewish group in Jerusalem to a multi-ethnic movement across the Roman world.
  • They shape later Christian ideas about mission, church life, suffering, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

If you meant “which kinds of actions or behaviors fit into the biblical storyline” (for example, moral “acts” like justice, mercy, or sin), say so and the answer can focus on categories of human actions instead of the Book of Acts itself.