A method of driving an AC plasma display panel for carrying out gray-scale display using a structure in which each field consists of a plurality of subfields, each of which includes an initialization period, a write period, and a sustain period. At least in one predetermined subfield out of the plurality of subfields, at least a part of a sustain operation in the sustain period and at least a part of an initialization operation in the initialization period in a subsequent subfield are carried out at the same time. The visibility of black is improved considerably and the contrast can be enhanced greatly.