Remembering Acts – Acts 1–28

by | Acts

The following table can help recall the general flow of the book of Acts. I learned and adapted this from Prof. Ron Blue of Dallas Theological Seminary. He picked it up from someone else, whose name is long lost in my discarded or misplaced student notes. Yet the memory of it lies cemented in my grey matter, which testifies to its effectiveness as a mnemonic device.

The left column shows the chapter number(s), the middle column contains the memory device that rhymes with the chapter number, and the right column provides a brief explanation of the significant event in the chapter. The associations require imagination, for example, chapter 8 (gate), the story of Philip and the eunuch. Whether or not chariots have gates at the back, one can humorously imagine the eunuch reaching back to close the chariot gate. Creative imagination helps the memory. With relative ease you can learn and recite the mnemonics, which will then trigger the chapter content in your memory.

1 Sun/Son Ascension, going to heaven where the sun is
2 Dew Holy Spirit coming down like dew
3 Knee Peter heals crippled beggar (bad knees?)
4 Door Opened/closed gospel door to Jews
5 Dive Ananias and Sapphira take a dive
6 Sticks Pickup sticks – first servants pick up after others
7 Heaven Stephen goes to heaven – first martyr
8 Gate Philip & Ethiopian in chariot – gate closing behind as person gets in chariot?
9 Shine Saul’s conversion – brilliant light
10 Hen Peter’s vision of animals in a sheet
11 Leaven Persecution scatters like leaven in world
12 Shelve Peter & James shelved in prison
13-14 Paul gone courting First missionary tour, courting Gentiles
15 Church Convenes Council decides how the Gentiles fit in
16-18 Again a team Second missionary tour
19-20 Three tours aplenty Third missionary tour
21-26 Paul in a fix Paul in Jerusalem arrested
27-28 Rome the Great Paul’s destination, imprisonment

Lord, may Your Spirit bring to my memory all things You have taught me in the book of Acts. To You be the glory through Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen!


 

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