Peter Freed from Prison — Rhoda Forgets the Door 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: “Peter’s friends kept praying to God.”
King Herod wanted to hurt Jesus’ friends. He had Peter arrested and put in prison. Peter was one of Jesus’ closest friends. It was the time of the Passover feast. Herod wanted to bring Peter out to the people after the feast.
Sixteen soldiers had to guard Peter! That is four groups of four soldiers. So many soldiers for one man!
So Peter was kept in the prison. But his friends did not forget him. They prayed and prayed for him, day after day. Peter’s friends kept praying to God.
Then came the night before Herod would bring him out. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. He was tied with two chains. Guards stood in front of the door. Shhh. Can you pretend to sleep, like Peter? And in the city, Peter’s friends kept praying to God.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him. A light shone in the cell. A cell is a little prison room. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him up. “Stand up quickly!” Clink, clank! The chains fell off his hands.
“Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so. “Put on your cloak and follow me.” A cloak is a big, warm coat.
Peter followed him out, step by step, right behind the angel. He thought it was only a dream! He did not know it was really happening.
They walked past the first guard. They walked past the second guard. Then they came to the big iron gate that led into the city. It opened all by itself! Creak! They went out and walked down one street. Then the angel was gone.
Peter stood there in the street. Now he was wide awake. Now Peter knew it was real. “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me,” he said. Delivered means saved.
Peter went to the house of a woman named Mary. Many people were there. They were praying. Peter’s friends kept praying to God.
Knock, knock! Peter knocked at the door of the gate. Can you knock with me? A servant girl named Rhoda came. She knew Peter’s voice! She was so full of joy, she did not open the gate. She ran inside. “Peter is standing at the gate!” she said.
“You are crazy!” they said. But Rhoda said it was true. Then they said, “It is his angel.” They did not believe it was really Peter!
But Peter kept on knocking. Knock, knock, knock! At last they opened the gate. There was Peter! They were amazed.
Peter waved his hand for them to be quiet. Can you put your finger on your lips? Shh. Then he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.
“Tell these things to James and to the brothers,” Peter said. Then he went away to another place.
God had heard all their prayers, and God had set Peter free. Peter’s friends kept praying to God.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Why do you think Rhoda forgot to open the gate?
- How do you think Peter’s friends felt when they saw him at the door?
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)
Peter slept between 2 soldiers, tied with 2 chains. Color the 2 soldiers and the 2 chains.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Prayer was made by the assembly to God for him” — Acts 12:5 (prayer was made → fold your hands; to God → point up; for him → point to a friend)
Dear God, thank you that you hear our prayers. Thank you that you watched over Peter. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God hears us when we pray
Memory verse: “Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.” — Acts 12:5 · WEB
The Bible story
One dark night an angel wakes Peter, his chains fall off, locked gates swing open on their own, and a joyful girl called Rhoda gets the sweetest surprise!
Talk about it
- Who loved to tell everyone about Jesus at the start of the story? — Peter
- Who put Peter in prison? — King Herod
- What did Peter's friends do while he was in prison? — They prayed hard for him
- Who suddenly appeared beside Peter in his cell? — An angel of the Lord
- What happened to the chains on Peter's hands? — They simply fell off
- What did the angel tell Peter to do? — Get dressed and follow him
Where is Jesus in this story?
King Herod arrested Peter during the Passover festival (Acts 12:3–4). Years before, also at Passover, Jesus was arrested too. But Jesus did not escape. He chose to give His life to set us free from sin, and on the third day death could not keep its hold on Him (Acts 2:24). Peter walked out of prison; Jesus walked out of the grave.
What God wants to tell us
When Peter was locked away and everything seemed hopeless, his friends kept on praying, and God answered in a wonderful way. God loves you just the same. No wall is too thick and no night is too dark for Him. Whenever you feel stuck or afraid, you can talk to God, knowing He hears every word and cares for you deeply.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for hearing me whenever I pray. Thank You that You are strong enough to help me, even when things feel scary or hard. Please help me to trust You like Peter did, and to remember that You are always near. Amen.
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