The stories in the Acts of the Apostles have been revered throughout Chrisitan history as a resource about the origins of the church and the triumph of the faith in the face of oppoosition. The author of Acts was a skilled storyteller who used the models of popular storytelling of the day to make a compelling, inspirational account and an example for us of the power of storytelling in presenting the Christian message. From the descent of the Spirit upon the waiting disciples at Pentecost to the dramatic account of Paul's shipwreck while en route to Rome to stand trial, retellings of the biblical story are woven into commentary on the text to provide an illuminating portrait of the early church's struggle for an unfettered gospel.