4th Grade Bible & Scripture — The Early Church — Acts of the Apostles
Students will learn how Peter, once afraid, became bold through the Holy Spirit and preached a powerful sermon that led 3,000 people to faith in Christ.
When the crowd in Jerusalem heard the disciples speaking in different languages, some people were confused and thought they were drunk. But Peter stood up bravely and spoke to the crowd, explaining what was happening.
Peter reminded the people of Old Testament prophecies that pointed to Jesus. He explained that Jesus was the Messiah — the one God had promised to send. He told them that Jesus had been crucified, but God raised Him from the dead.
Peter's words cut to the hearts of the people. They asked, 'What should we do?' Peter answered, 'Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'
That day, about 3,000 people believed in Jesus and were baptized! Remember, this was the same Peter who had denied knowing Jesus just weeks earlier. The Holy Spirit transformed him from a fearful fisherman into a bold preacher. God can use anyone who is willing.
Compare Peter before and after Pentecost. Make a T-chart: on the left side, write how Peter acted before (denied Jesus, was afraid). On the right side, write how he acted after (preached boldly, led 3,000 to Christ). Write a sentence about what made the difference.