Single lesson
Peter's Message at Pentecost
Acts 2:14–36
Peter stands up and explains what the people are seeing and hearing. In this passage he says the Spirit has been poured out, Jesus was raised by God, and everyone should know who Jesus is.
Before you teach
Acts 2:14–36 records Peter speaking publicly with the eleven. He answers the idea that the people are drunk, quotes Joel, then speaks about Jesus of Nazareth, his death, his resurrection, and his exaltation at God’s right hand.
Students will be able to state that Peter’s message says God raised Jesus, Jesus poured out what they now see and hear, and God made Jesus both Lord and Christ.
Welcome: Listen to Peter’s message
4 minAsk the children to listen for three main ideas as you read Acts 2:14–36 aloud: What does Peter say about the Spirit, about Jesus, and about what the people should know? Explain that Peter is speaking to ‘men of Judea’ and to ‘all the house of Israel’ and wants them to listen carefully to his words.
Acts 2:14, Acts 2:36
Read and explain: Peter says this is what God promised
7 minRead Acts 2:14–21. Point out that Peter first answers a wrong idea: the people are not drunk. Then he explains that this is what was spoken through Joel. The repeated line about God pouring out his Spirit helps children see that Peter understands these events as God’s work.
Acts 2:15, Acts 2:16, Acts 2:17, Acts 2:18, Acts 2:21
Discuss: Peter speaks about Jesus’ death and resurrection
7 minRead Acts 2:22–32. Explain simply that Peter reminds the people of Jesus’ mighty works, says Jesus was crucified and killed, and then strongly says God raised him up. Peter also quotes David and then explains that David’s words point beyond David to the resurrection of the Christ.
Acts 2:22, Acts 2:23, Acts 2:24, Acts 2:29, Acts 2:31, Acts 2:32
Make and respond: Reminder card about Jesus
8 minChildren choose a key line from the passage, such as ‘God raised up’ or ‘both Lord and Christ’, and make a small reminder card. As they work, ask them to say how the chosen words connect to Peter’s whole message, including Jesus being exalted and pouring out what the people now see and hear.
Acts 2:24, Acts 2:32, Acts 2:33, Acts 2:36
Closing: What should all know certainly?
4 minFinish by reading Acts 2:33–36. Explain that Peter says the risen Jesus is exalted by the right hand of God and has poured out what the people now see and hear. End with each child saying one sentence that begins, ‘Peter wants us to know that...’
Acts 2:33, Acts 2:36
Questions to explore
Why does Peter begin by saying the people are not drunk?
This helps children notice that Peter is answering the crowd’s confusion before he explains that what they are seeing is what was spoken through Joel.
Acts 2:15, Acts 2:16
What does Peter say God did after Jesus was crucified and killed?
Guide children to use Peter’s exact words that God raised Jesus up and that the apostles are witnesses to this.
Acts 2:23, Acts 2:24, Acts 2:32
According to Peter, what should all the house of Israel know certainly about Jesus?
Encourage children to answer with the closing statement of the speech, because Peter gives his main conclusion there.
Acts 2:36
Make, think or respond
Key Verse Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- Small pieces of card or paper
- Pencils or pens
- Crayons or coloured pencils
- Bible text opened to Acts 2:14–36
Try it together
- Read Acts 2:24, Acts 2:33 and Acts 2:36, and let each child choose one short phrase as a key reminder.
- Write the phrase neatly on one side of the card.
- On the other side, draw or write one matching idea from Peter’s message, such as raised up, poured out, or Lord and Christ.
- Invite each child to show the card and explain in one sentence how it matches Peter’s message.
The card helps children remember Peter’s main teaching that God raised Jesus, Jesus is exalted by the right hand of God, and he has poured out what they now see and hear.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two prepared phrase choices from Acts 2:24 and Acts 2:36, and let them copy one with a simple drawing.
- For stronger readers, ask them to include a second supporting phrase from Acts 2:16–21 or Acts 2:33 and explain how it connects to their key verse.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: ‘God, thank you for showing through Peter’s message that Jesus was raised up and is Lord and Christ. Please help us listen carefully and remember what this passage says about Jesus.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 2
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.
18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,
23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
25 For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope,
27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
28 You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
31 he foreseeing this, spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay.
32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you now see and hear.
34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand
35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’
36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
