Includes bibliographical references (p. 249-280) and index.

Introduction -- Ancient narratives, characterization, and the Acts of the Apostles -- Ancient narrative texts, readers, and the reading process reading characters in ancient narratives characterization and the Acts of the Apostles -- The Jerusalem church as narrative character (Acts 1:18:3) -- The earliest Christians after Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:12-26) --The gathered believers and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) -- The community of believers and the aftermath of the Pentecost events (Acts 2:42-47) -- The praying believers after initial persecution (Acts 4:23-31) -- The community of believers after persecution and divine affirmation (Acts 4:32-37) -- The church and the incident with Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) -- The church after the incident with Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:12-16) -- The proclaiming believers and increasing persecution (Acts 5:1742) -- The earliest Christians and the problem with the widows (Acts 6:17) -- The scattered believers after the death of Stephen (Acts 8:1b-3) -- The characterization of the Christian church or group of believers in Jerusalem (Acts 1:18-33) -- The churches in Jerusalem and beyond as narrative characters (Acts 8:41; 2:25) -- The Jewish Christians outside of Jerusalem (Acts 8:4) -- The early Christians in Damascus (Acts 9:19b-25) -- The Jerusalem church meets Saul (Acts 9:26-30) -- The church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria (Acts 9:31) -- Peter, Cornelius, and the first gentile Christians (Acts 10:44-48) -- The Jerusalem church questions Peter about his actions (Acts 11:1-18) -- The first Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:19-30) -- Another look at the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:1-19) -- The characterization of the Christian churches or groups of believers in Jerusalem and beyond (Acts 8:4; 12:25) -- The churches in the Roman Empire as narrative characters (Acts 13:12; 8:31) -- The church in Antioch sends Barnabas and Aaul (Acts 13:13) -- The Christian believers in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:44-52) -- The Christian believers in Lystra and other cities (Acts 14:19-28) -- The controversy in Antioch and the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:1-35) -- The churches in Antioch and Asia after the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:36; 16:5) -- The believers in Thessalonica and Beroea (Acts 17:1-15) -- The church in Corinth (Acts 18:1-17) -- Some believers in Ephesus (Acts 18:24-28) -- More believers in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-41) -- The Ephesian believers and Paul say farewell (Acts 20:17-38) -- Groups of believers as Paul approaches Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-16) -- The Jerusalem church meets with Paul (Acts 21:17-36) -- The Roman believers meet Paul (Acts 28:11-31) -- The characterization of the Christian churches or groups of believers in the Roman Empire (Acts 13:12; 8:31).