Single lesson
The Apostles Are Freed and Stand before the Council
Acts 5:17–42
This lesson helps children follow the order of Acts 5:17–42, notice the choices different people made, and see how the apostles kept teaching about Jesus even when they were opposed.
Before you teach
In this passage, the high priest and those with him are filled with jealousy and put the apostles in public custody. During the night an angel of the Lord opens the prison, tells them to speak in the temple, and the next day they are brought before the council again. The council hears Peter and the apostles, listens to Gamaliel, and releases the apostles after beating them.
Students will be able to sequence five main parts of Acts 5:17–42 and explain from the passage that the apostles kept obeying God by teaching about Jesus.
Welcome: Who made a choice?
4 minBriefly introduce the lesson aim: today the class will listen for choices and outcomes. Explain that several groups act in different ways in this passage: the jealous leaders arrest the apostles, the angel gives a command, the apostles teach, the council questions them, and the apostles continue speaking about Jesus. Ask children to listen for what happened next each time.
Acts 5:17, Acts 5:18, Acts 5:20, Acts 5:21, Acts 5:27, Acts 5:42
Read and explain: From prison to the temple
7 minRead Acts 5:17–26 in clear parts. Explain that “public custody” means the apostles were kept under guard. Point out the surprise in the story: the prison is locked and guarded, yet the apostles are gone because an angel of the Lord opened the doors. The angel’s message is specific: go, stand, and speak in the temple. The apostles obey at daybreak and begin teaching.
Acts 5:18, Acts 5:19, Acts 5:20, Acts 5:21, Acts 5:23, Acts 5:25, Acts 5:26
Discuss: What did Peter and the apostles say?
6 minRead Acts 5:27–32. Help children hear the council’s complaint that the apostles were told not to teach in Jesus’ name. Then focus on the apostles’ answer: “We must obey God rather than men.” Peter says God raised Jesus, exalted him, and gives repentance and remission of sins. The apostles say they are witnesses, and they also mention the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:27, Acts 5:28, Acts 5:29, Acts 5:30, Acts 5:31, Acts 5:32
Make and respond: Sequence strip of the passage
8 minChildren make a simple five-part sequence strip showing: arrest, angel opens prison, teaching in the temple, speaking before the council, and continuing to teach. As they work, read Acts 5:33–42 and explain that Gamaliel told the council to be careful, the apostles were beaten and warned, and they left rejoicing and kept teaching every day.
Acts 5:33, Acts 5:34, Acts 5:35, Acts 5:38, Acts 5:39, Acts 5:40, Acts 5:41, Acts 5:42
Closing: Say the lesson in order
5 minInvite children to hold up their sequence strips and retell the passage in five short steps. Finish by asking what the apostles kept doing at the end. Reinforce that the passage shows steady obedience to God and ongoing teaching about Jesus, even after warning and suffering.
Acts 5:29, Acts 5:41, Acts 5:42
Questions to explore
What did the angel tell the apostles to do after opening the prison doors?
Look for the exact command words in the verse and notice where they were told to go and what they were told to speak.
Acts 5:20
How did Peter and the apostles answer when the council challenged them about teaching in Jesus’ name?
Find the short sentence that begins with “We must”, then notice what they said next about Jesus.
Acts 5:28, Acts 5:29, Acts 5:30, Acts 5:31
What did the apostles do after they were released by the council?
Read the final two verses and listen for both their attitude and their ongoing action.
Acts 5:41, Acts 5:42
Make, think or respond
Five-Part Sequence Strip
What you’ll need
- paper
- pencils or crayons
- scissors
- glue or sticky tape
- a ruler optional
Try it together
- Fold or divide a sheet of paper into five boxes.
- In each box, draw one part of the passage in order: arrest, opened prison, temple teaching, council hearing, continued teaching.
- Under each picture, write one or two key words from the lesson, such as “custody”, “speak”, “obey God”, or “every day”.
- Cut and glue the boxes into a long strip, or keep them on one page, then practise retelling the account in order with a partner.
The sequence strip helps children follow the order of Acts 5:17–42 and remember the apostles’ choices and the outcomes in the passage.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, provide the five events verbally and let them draw simple symbols instead of writing phrases.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to add a matching verse reference to each box, such as Acts 5:18, Acts 5:20, Acts 5:25, Acts 5:29, and Acts 5:42.
An optional closing prayer
“God, please help us listen to your word, speak truthfully about Jesus, and be faithful like the apostles in this passage. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 5
17 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy
18 and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody.
19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,
20 “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
23 “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.
25 One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”
26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,
28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.
31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
32 We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.
34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.
35 He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.
36 For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing.
37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.
39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”
40 They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.
42 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.