Single lesson
Peter Speaks at the Temple
Acts 3:11–26
After a healed man draws a crowd, Peter explains that the miracle is not about Peter and John’s power. This lesson helps children hear Peter’s main message about Jesus, repentance and God’s blessing.
Before you teach
In this passage, people gather in Solomon’s porch after seeing the healed man with Peter and John. Peter answers their amazement by pointing away from himself and toward Jesus. He speaks about Jesus’ death, resurrection, faith in his name, the call to repent and God’s promises spoken through the prophets.
Students will be able to say that Peter taught the crowd to look to Jesus, believe God raised him, and repent and turn to God.
Welcome: What made the crowd run over?
5 minBegin by asking children what first caught the crowd’s attention. Read Acts 3:11 aloud and note that the healed man stayed with Peter and John, and the people came together in great wonder. Explain that Peter uses this moment to teach them what the healing means, rather than enjoying the attention himself.
Acts 3:11
Read and explain: Peter points away from himself to Jesus
8 minRead Acts 3:12-16. Explain that Peter says the healing did not happen by his own power or godliness. He says God glorified Jesus, that Jesus was raised from the dead, and that the man was made strong by faith in Jesus’ name. Help children notice that the miracle is evidence pointing to Jesus.
Acts 3:12, Acts 3:13, Acts 3:14, Acts 3:15, Acts 3:16
Discuss: What does Peter tell the people to do?
6 minRead Acts 3:17-21. Explain that Peter speaks seriously about their actions, yet he also calls them to repent and turn again so their sins may be blotted out. Discuss that repentance means turning back to God. Peter also speaks about what God announced beforehand and about times of refreshing from the Lord’s presence.
Acts 3:17, Acts 3:18, Acts 3:19, Acts 3:20, Acts 3:21
Make and respond: Listen to the prophet God raised up
7 minRead Acts 3:22-26. Show that Peter says Moses spoke about a prophet whom the people must listen to, and Peter connects this to Jesus. He also says God promised blessing through Abraham’s offspring and sent Jesus first to bless people by turning them from wickedness. Children choose a key verse and make a reminder card.
Acts 3:22, Acts 3:23, Acts 3:24, Acts 3:25, Acts 3:26
Closing: Say the message in one sentence
4 minInvite each child to finish this sentence: ‘Peter wanted the crowd to know that...’ Guide them to include Jesus, the healing, and the call to repent. End by briefly reviewing that the sign made people look, but Peter wanted them to listen to God’s Servant Jesus.
Acts 3:12, Acts 3:16, Acts 3:19, Acts 3:26
Questions to explore
Why did Peter tell the crowd not to stare at Peter and John as if they had healed the man by their own power?
Look at Peter’s words in Acts 3:12 and then Acts 3:16 to see who Peter says made the man strong.
Acts 3:12, Acts 3:16
What does Peter say God did for Jesus, and why does that matter in Peter’s message?
Read Acts 3:13 and Acts 3:15 carefully and notice the repeated action of God toward Jesus.
Acts 3:13, Acts 3:15
According to Peter, what blessing did God send through Jesus first?
Use Acts 3:26 and notice that the blessing is described as turning people away from something.
Acts 3:26
Make, think or respond
Key Verse Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or pens
- crayons or coloured pencils
- Bible
Try it together
- Ask each child to choose one key verse or phrase from the passage, such as ‘Repent therefore, and turn again’ or ‘By faith in his name’.
- Help them write the words neatly on a small card and add a simple drawing linked to the verse, such as footsteps turning around or a strong walking figure.
- Invite each child to explain how their chosen words connect to Peter’s message about Jesus.
- Place the cards where children can take them home and use them to remember the passage this week.
This activity helps children focus on Peter’s own words about Jesus, faith and turning to God in Acts 3:16, Acts 3:19 and Acts 3:26.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, pre-select two short phrases from the passage and let them choose one to copy with a simple picture.
- For older children, ask them to add one sentence on the back explaining how their chosen verse connects to the whole speech Peter gives.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: ‘Lord God, thank you that Peter pointed people to Jesus. Please help us listen to Jesus, turn to you, and remember your words.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 3
11 As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
12 When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses.
16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 “Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19 “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
20 and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before,
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.
22 For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you.
23 It will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
24 Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, also told of these days.
25 You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.’
26 God, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.