What is the primary purpose of the Book of Acts?

• A. To write a collection of sermons by Paul
• B. To document the acts of the apostles through the Holy Spirit as the gospel advances from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
• C. To outline the life of Jesus prior to the crucifixion
• D. To compile prophecies about end times

Answer: (B)

Acts presents the spread of the gospel through the Holy Spirit as believers move from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. It’s Luke’s second volume, tracing the early church’s experiences and bold witness empowered by the Spirit—from Pentecost through the missionary journeys of Paul—showing the gospel breaking out beyond Judea and Samaria to the Gentile world. This focus on how the apostles, aided by the Spirit, carry the message outward is why this option fits best. It isn’t a simple collection of Paul’s sermons, nor does it outline Jesus’ life prior to the crucifixion (that’s the Gospels), and it isn’t a compilation of end-times prophecies.