Does not the inscription of the book of the Acts of the Apostles seem clear, known, and obvious to all? But look carefully into the words and you will see what depth there is in this inscription. For why is it not said: Miracles of the Apostles? Why is the book not inscribed: the Signs of the Apostles, or the Powers and Wonderworkings of the Apostles, but the Acts of the Apostles? For deeds and signs are not the same, works and wonders are not the same; There is a great difference between the two. An act is a matter of one's own diligence, and a miracle is a gift of Divine grace. Do you see what a distance there is between deeds and miracles? An act is the fruit of one's own labors, and a miracle is a manifestation of Divine generosity; the deed derives its beginning from our intention, the miracle has its source in the grace of God; the latter is the work of heavenly help, and the former is the work of human volition. An act is composed of both, from our diligence and from Divine grace; but a miracle manifests only heavenly grace, and does not need our labors in the least. Deeds include being meek, chaste, moderate, restraining anger, conquering lust, giving alms, showing love for mankind, striving in every virtue. This is what our work consists in, and our work and sweat. And the miracle consists in driving out demons, opening the eyes of the blind, cleansing the bodies of lepers, pulling together paralytic limbs, raising the dead, and doing other things like this supernaturally. Do you see what a distance there is between deeds and miracles, life and signs, our diligence and God's Grace!

Good conduct alone can save those who have it. For this reason the blessed, valiant, and wondrous Luke wrote his book: The Acts of the Apostles, and not: The Miracles of the Apostles. Although the Apostles also performed miracles, miracles had their time, and ceased; Deeds at all times must be manifested in themselves by all who desire to receive salvation. Thus, since it is not miracles that are supposed to be for our competition, but the acts of the Apostles, Luke wrote his book in this way. For whatever you say, or better than what the lazy say, when we exhort them to imitate the Apostles, and say, Imitate Peter, be jealous of Paul, walk like John, follow James; so that they do not say: "We cannot, we do not have such strength; The apostles raised the dead, cleansed lepers," curbing such a shameless excuse, be silent, he says, dumb: it is not miracles, but a good life that leads into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, be zealous for the life of the Apostles, and you will have no less than the Apostles: for it was not miracles that made them Apostles, but a pure life. (Christ. Thu. 1846. P., pp. 175-177. 181-182).

A review of the Book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles in chapter order, compiled according to the guidance of the Holy Apostles. Athanasius of Alexandria

This book is so called because it contains the Acts of the Apostles. Luke the Evangelist, who wrote this book, tells about them. He traveled with the other Apostles, and especially with Paul, and in this book he recorded the events of which he had accurate information. It contains the following:

Chapter I. Jesus Christ, having gathered His Apostles on the Mount of Olives, commands them to wait in Jerusalem for the sending of the Holy Spirit promised by Him. The Spirit by which they must bear witness to Him even in the farthest countries of the earth. After the ascension of Jesus Christ, the Apostles received a command from two angels to return to Jerusalem and await His second coming. They return and remain in prayer unceasingly. Their names are as follows: the first is Simon, otherwise Peter, then James, the son of Zebedee, John, his brother, Andrew, the brother of Peter, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James of Alpheus, Simon the Zealot, Judas of James, who is also Thaddeus, Judas Iscariot, and the betrayer of the Lord.

Chapter II. The Apostles, having been filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in different tongues, which aroused wonder in some, and mockery at themselves in others. Peter, in refutation of the latter, proves that the Apostles speak in this way according to the action of the Holy Spirit. That Jesus rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, poured out the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the Messiah, the Man of whom God testified through His actions, miracles, and signs, and who was not crucified without His counsel and foreknowledge. After this sermon, Peter baptizes a great number of converts, who then live godly and in love. The apostles perform many miracles, and God multiplies His church daily.

Chapter III: Peter and John, going to the temple, meet a lame man and heal him; Peter declares that this healing was not by the power of him or John, but by the power of God and His Son Jesus Christ, through faith in Him; reproaching the Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus, he urges them to ask for forgiveness of sins and salvation through repentance and faith.

Chapter IV: The leaders of the Jews, irritated by Peter's speech, by which he converted about 5000 people, lock him up together with John in prison. Then, when Peter boldly asserted that the lame man was healed by the name of Jesus, and that through Jesus alone eternal salvation could be obtained, they forever forbade him and John to preach about this name, and threatening them, let them go. On this occasion the faithful resort to prayer, and God by shaking the place where they are gathered shows that their prayer has been heard: they are all filled with the Holy Spirit. And are bound together by mutual love.

Chapter V. Ananias and Sapphira, for their hypocrisy, fall dead according to Peter's rebuke; the other Apostles also perform miracles, and the number of believers again increases. The Apostles are taken into custody; but the angel sets them free and commands them to preach everywhere openly. After preaching together in the temple, the Apostles are in danger of being killed; but with the assistance of Gamaliel they are released alive, having nevertheless accepted the reproach, for which they glorify God and do not cease to preach every day.

Chapter VI. The Apostles ordain seven deacons, whose names are: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmen, and Nicholas. Stephen, a man full of faith and power to work miracles, was seized by those whom he had confused by his speech, and falsely accused of blasphemy against the law and the temple.

Chapter VII: Stephen makes a defense speech: in it he enumerates the Patriarchs, exposing some events in their lives; he tells about Moses, remarking, among other things, that this Moses foretold about Christ, and that the tabernacle was made according to the pattern seen by Moses; he reproaches the Jews for their obstinacy and for the murder of Christ: for which they stone him. Stephen dies with a prayer for his enemies.

Chapter VIII: The Great Persecution of the Church in Jerusalem. Philip by his miracles planted a church in Samaria, where he converted Simon the sorcerer among many; Peter and John come here, and after prayer, through the laying on of hands, they bring down upon the faithful the Holy Spirit. Spirit. Simon wants to buy this power from them; Peter strongly rebukes and exhorts him to repent; together with John, having preached the word of the Lord, he returned to Jerusalem. An angel sends Philip on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza; Philip meets the eunuch of the Ethiopian queen there, teaches and baptizes him.