The answer is: Acts

Both Matthew and Acts contain 28 chapters, but Acts has 31 verses in the 28th chapter compared to Matthew's 20. However if you count words or verses alone, then the longest book is Luke - but it's not reasonable to expect you to count the number of verses in each book!

When it comes to the books of the New Testament, "Acts" grabs the title as the longest by chapter and verse count. This intriguing book is essentially the sequel to the Gospel of Luke, so it's a bit like the second half of an epic series, featuring the rapid spread of early Christianity. Imagine the early church as a startup, and Acts captures both the growing pains and hit success of this innovative movement.

What's important to note is that "Matthew" and "Acts" both flaunt 28 chapters. But in a classic case of "size matters," Acts goes the extra mile (or verse!) with 31 verses in its climactic final chapter. A fun piece of trivia: Did you know that shifting from Gospel (covering Jesus' life and teachings) to Acts brings the focus onto the deeds of the apostles? The original “Acts” could lead you on a wild adventure through cities, trials, and even shipwrecks!

And speaking of Luke, if you held it accountable by sheer word count, it takes the crown as the longest book in the New Testament. It's amazing how many layers slide across themes of compassion, redemption, and joy found within these pages. So whether you explore the thrilling action of Acts or savor the rich narratives of Luke, both books invite you to understand the early seeds of a faith that influenced countless lives throughout history. Dive in and see how these stories beat in tandem with one another!