Books of the New Testament Summaries: Gospels and Acts

The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

The New Testament begins with four books known as the Gospels. These books tell the story of Jesus’ life, ministry, and teachings.

They do not record every single thing Jesus did or said. In fact, John wrote that the entire world could not contain all the books that could be written about Jesus (John 20:30-31; 21:25). However, the Gospels tell us more than enough to understand who Jesus is, build our faith, and learn how to live.

Matthew

The apostle Matthew wrote this first Gospel. Matthew’s primary audience was the Jewish people, who were God’s covenant people under the Old Testament.

To connect with them, Matthew listed Jesus’ genealogy (family history) to prove He was a descendant of King David. This fulfilled God’s promise in 2 Samuel 7 (see also Acts 2:29-30). Matthew also highlights how Jesus is the Messiah (the promised King and Savior) who delivers people from their sins.

Mark

Mark wrote his Gospel for a non-Jewish audience (the Gentiles). Since the good news of Jesus was for both Jews and Gentiles, these other nations needed to learn about Jesus too.

Mark was not one of the twelve apostles. Instead, he was an early Christian preacher who traveled and worked closely with the apostles Paul and Barnabas.

Almost all of Mark’s content is found in the other Gospels; it contains only 25 unique verses. While some scholars debate who copied whom, the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit inspired all the writers (2 Peter 1:21).

Luke

The book of Luke is actually a letter written to a man named Theophilus (pronounced thee-off-ill-us). Luke was a physician (doctor) who traveled with the apostle Paul on his missionary journeys.

Luke is the only Gospel writer who claims to present the events of Jesus’ life in chronological order. While other writers grouped similar stories together, Luke did careful research. He interviewed eyewitnesses who personally knew Jesus (Luke 1:1-4). He later wrote a second letter, the book of Acts, to tell Theophilus what happened after Jesus returned to heaven.

John

The apostle John wrote this book with a clear purpose: to prove that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:30-31).

John’s Gospel is unique. It contains no parables (short stories used to teach a lesson) and includes many events and conversations that the other three Gospels omit. Throughout the book, John shows how Jesus’ miracles, fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, and God’s own voice from heaven all prove Jesus’ divine nature.

Key Facts About the Gospels

• Only Matthew and John were apostles among the four Gospel writers.
• Mark and Luke were close companions of the apostle Paul.
• John’s Gospel does not contain any parables.
• Luke wrote both his Gospel and the book of Acts to instruct a man named Theophilus.
• A significant portion of Matthew, Mark, and Luke focuses entirely on the final week of Jesus’ life on Earth.

The Book of Acts

The book of Acts is a continuation of Luke’s Gospel, written to the same man, Theophilus. It serves as the history book of the early church.

While the Gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, Acts begins with Jesus ascending (returning) to heaven. From there, it shows the apostles spreading the gospel (good news of salvation) to the world.

Although the full title is “The Acts of the Apostles,” the book focuses primarily on the work of Peter, Paul, and a preacher named Philip (who was not an apostle).

Overview of Acts

The first seven chapters of Acts describe the birth of the church (Acts 2) and its rapid growth in Jerusalem.

• Philip’s Ministry: Acts 8 details the work of Philip, an evangelist (preacher of the gospel) who shared the message in Samaria.
• Saul’s Conversion: Acts 9 begins with Saul persecuting (oppressing and punishing) Christians. After Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, Saul became an apostle, changed his name to Paul, and spread Christianity worldwide.
• Gentile Inclusion: Acts 10 and 11 mark the first time the gospel was preached to non-Jews. This proved that salvation is for all people, not just the Jewish nation.
• Herod’s Downfall: Acts 12 tells how King Herod tried to silence Peter by imprisoning him, but an angel rescued Peter. Later, Herod died suddenly because he allowed people to worship him as a god.
• Paul’s First Journey: Acts 13-14 outlines Paul’s first missionary trip to foreign cities.
• The Jerusalem Council: Acts 15 addresses a major dispute over whether Gentiles had to follow the Law of Moses. Supported by the Holy Spirit, the apostles decided that Christians are not bound by the Old Covenant law.
• Further Journeys and Trial: Acts 16 to 21 detail Paul’s second and third missionary journeys. The final chapters track Paul’s arrest by Jewish leaders, his defense before various rulers, and his journey to Rome to stand trial before Caesar.

Key Facts About Acts

• It is the second of two letters written by Luke to Theophilus.
• It highlights the ministries of Peter, Paul, and Philip.
• It records the official beginning of the church on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
• It documents how the gospel spread globally, breaking cultural and national barriers.