Peter and John Before the Council 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: “They had been with Jesus.”
Peter and John were going to the temple to pray. It was three o’clock in the afternoon, the time of prayer. At the gate called Beautiful sat a man who could not walk. He had never walked in his whole life. Every day people carried him there to ask for money.
The man asked Peter and John for money. Peter looked right at him. “Look at us,” he said. The man looked up. He hoped to get something.
But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold. But what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
Peter took his right hand and lifted him up. Right away his feet and ankles became strong! The man jumped up. He walked and leaped and praised God. Can you jump up and praise God too? They had been with Jesus.
All the people saw him walking and praising God. They knew him. He was the man who always sat at the gate! They were full of wonder.
Peter and John told the people about Jesus. They said that God had raised Jesus from the dead. But the leaders did not like it. They put Peter and John in jail until the next day.
But many people believed in Jesus – about five thousand men! Five thousand is so many, you could count all night long.
In the morning, the leaders asked them a question. “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”
Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom God raised from the dead. This man stands here before you whole.” Whole means well and strong.
Peter said Jesus was like a stone that the builders threw away. But God made that stone the most important stone of all! And Peter said, “There is salvation in no one else.” Salvation means being saved. Jesus is the one who saves.
The leaders were amazed. Peter and John had not gone to big schools. But they were so brave! Then the leaders understood why. They had been with Jesus.
The healed man stood right there with them. He was more than forty years old, and now he could walk! Nobody could say anything against it.
The leaders told them not to speak about Jesus anymore. But Peter and John answered, “We can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.” Can you point to your eyes and to your ears? They had been with Jesus.
So the leaders let them go. And everyone praised God for what had happened.
Peter and John went back to their friends. They all prayed together. They asked God to make them brave. And the place where they were shook! Can you wiggle like a shaking room? They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they told God’s word bravely.
God made them brave to tell about Jesus. And God still makes his people brave today. They had been with Jesus.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think the man did with his new strong legs?
- What would you like to tell others about Jesus?
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)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“We can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard” — Acts 4:20 (we can’t help telling → hands around your mouth; which we saw → point to your eyes; and heard → point to your ears)
Dear God, thank you for Jesus, who makes people well. Please make me brave to tell about him. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Be Brave for Jesus
Memory verse: “For we can't help telling the things which we saw and heard.” — Acts 4:20 · WEB
The Bible story
When Peter and John are brought before the powerful council for helping a lame man walk, they bravely speak up about Jesus and won't stay quiet!
Talk about it
- Where were Peter and John going at the start of the story? — To the temple to pray
- Who was sitting by the temple gate? — A man who could not walk
- What did the man hope Peter and John would give him? — Some money
- What did Peter give the man instead of silver or gold? — Healing in Jesus' name
- What did the man do when his legs grew strong? — He walked and leaped, praising God
- Who did Peter say really healed the man? — Jesus
Where is Jesus in this story?
Peter told the leaders that Jesus is the stone the builders rejected, which has become the most important stone of all (Acts 4:11), quoting Psalm 118:22. The leaders had thrown Jesus away, but God raised him up. Peter added that salvation is found in no one else (Acts 4:12). The Jesus they rejected is the strong cornerstone you can build your life on.
What God wants to tell us
Peter and John were simple fishermen, but God filled them with courage to speak the truth about Jesus, even in front of the most powerful leaders. When we love God, He gives us the bravery we need too. We don't have to be big, clever, or grown-up to share His love. God is always with us, holding our hand, just like Peter held the hand of the man who could not walk. That same God helps us be brave and kind every single day.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for loving me and being with me all the time. Please give me a brave heart like Peter and John, so I can share how much You love people. Help me be kind and tell the truth, even when it feels hard. Thank You for Jesus, who makes everything better. I love You. Amen.
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