Peter and Aeneas — Eight Years on a Mat Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Jesus made Aeneas well!”
After Jesus went back to heaven, God’s family grew and grew. In many towns there were people who loved Jesus. They had peace, and the Holy Spirit comforted them.
Peter was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. Now Peter traveled from town to town. He visited God’s people everywhere. The Bible calls them saints – people who belong to God. One day he came to the town of Lydda. Lydda was not far from the sea.
In Lydda there lived a man named Aeneas. Aeneas was paralyzed. That means his body could not move. He had to lie in bed all day long.
He had been in bed for eight years. Let’s count the years on our fingers. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight! That is a very long time.
Every day was the same. Aeneas could not get up. He could not walk. He could not even make his own bed. Maybe his friends brought him food and helped him.
Peter had been with Jesus when Jesus healed many sick people. Once Jesus came to Peter’s own house. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. Jesus took her by the hand and lifted her up. And the fever left her! That evening, the whole town came to the door, and Jesus healed many.
Another time, four people carried a man who could not move to Jesus. Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” And the man got up and walked!
Then Peter found Aeneas. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Peter did not say, “I heal you.” He said that Jesus heals.
And right away, Aeneas got up! Jesus made Aeneas well!
Can you jump up out of bed, like Aeneas? Now fold your blanket and make your bed!
Aeneas could walk again. Step, step, stomp! He stood on his own two feet. He could make his own bed! All the people in Lydda saw him. What do you think they said? Jesus made Aeneas well!
The people in Sharon saw him too. Sharon was a wide, flat land near the sea. The Bible even sings about the rose of Sharon, a lovely flower. Can you make a flower with your hands?
And they turned to the Lord. That means they believed in Jesus too. Peter had said it: Jesus Christ heals. And everyone could see that it was true. Jesus made Aeneas well!
Soon after that, two men came from the town of Joppa. They asked Peter to come and help. But that is another story.
Jesus has power to heal, and he cares for each one. Peter called Aeneas by his name, and Jesus knew his name too. Jesus made Aeneas well!
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think Aeneas did first when he could walk again?
- How do you think the people of Lydda felt when they saw him?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Color the 8 beds – one for each year Aeneas could not get up.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Get up and make your bed!” — Acts 9:34 (Get up → stand up quickly; make your bed → smooth a pretend blanket)
Dear Jesus, thank you that you have power to heal. Thank you that you care for each one of us. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God never forgets you
Memory verse: “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” — Acts 9:34 · WEB
The Bible story
For eight long years a man named Aeneas could not leave his mat, until Peter arrived with three little words that changed everything for good.
Talk about it
- What was the name of the man in this story? — Aeneas
- In which town did Aeneas live? — Lydda
- How many years could Aeneas not get up and walk? — Eight years
- What did Aeneas lie on for all those years? — A mat
- Who came to the town of Lydda and met Aeneas? — Peter
- Who did Peter come to Lydda to visit? — The believers there
Where is Jesus in this story?
Peter did not make Aeneas well by his own strength. He said, "Jesus Christ makes you well," because it was Jesus' power flowing through him. Jesus is the One who heals hearts and bodies, and who lifts us up when we cannot lift ourselves. Just as Aeneas rose from his mat, Jesus wants to raise each of us into a brand new life full of hope, joy, and His never-ending love.
What God wants to tell us
Aeneas waited eight long years on his mat, but God knew his name and God knew his pain the whole time. Sometimes we wait a long while for good things, and it can feel like nobody sees us. But God always sees you, and He is never too far away and never too busy. In just the right moment, God's love and power reached Aeneas, and God's love reaches you too, right where you are.
Prayer
Thank You, God, that You never forget me, even when I have to wait. Thank You that You are mighty and kind. Please help me trust You, and help me share Your good news like Peter did. Amen.
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