Single lesson
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
Acts 2:1–13; Acts 2:37–41
In this lesson, children hear how the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, how the crowd reacted, and how people responded to Peter’s message. They will sequence the account and notice the choices people made.
Before you teach
This passage begins on the day of Pentecost, when they were all with one accord in one place. The text describes a sound like a mighty wind, tongues like fire, and people speaking in other languages. Later, after hearing Peter, they asked what to do, and some were baptised.
Students will be able to retell the order of Acts 2:1–13 and Acts 2:37–41, and identify two different responses people made to what they heard.
Welcome: Hear the big surprise at Pentecost
4 minTell the children they will listen for what happened first, next, and later. Introduce Pentecost as the day named in the passage. Explain that they were all with one accord in one place when something sudden happened, and the class will track both God’s action and people’s responses.
Acts 2:1, Acts 2:2
Read and explain: Wind, fire, and languages
8 minRead Acts 2:1–13 aloud in short parts. Explain that the passage says there was a sound like a rushing mighty wind, tongues like fire appeared, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The people spoke in other languages because the Spirit gave them the ability, and visitors from many places heard the mighty works of God in their own languages.
Acts 2:2, Acts 2:3, Acts 2:4, Acts 2:5, Acts 2:6, Acts 2:11
Discuss: Amazed, perplexed, mocking, and asking
6 minHelp the class notice that the crowd did not all respond the same way. Some were amazed and perplexed and asked what it meant. Others mocked and said the speakers were filled with new wine. Later, some were cut to the heart and asked, “What shall we do?” Compare these different responses to what God had done.
Acts 2:12, Acts 2:13, Acts 2:37
Make and respond: Sequence the account
8 minChildren make simple sequence cards and place them in order: together in one place, sound like wind, tongues like fire, other languages, crowd hears, some ask what it means, Peter says repent and be baptised, many receive his word and are baptised. Briefly explain each card from the passage.
Acts 2:1, Acts 2:2, Acts 2:3, Acts 2:4, Acts 2:6, Acts 2:12, Acts 2:38, Acts 2:41
Closing: What does this teach about God and people?
4 minReview the two main parts of the passage. From the text, God acted by filling them with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit gave them the ability to speak in other languages. People responded in different ways: amazed, mocking, asking what to do, and gladly receiving the word and being baptised.
Acts 2:4, Acts 2:12, Acts 2:13, Acts 2:37, Acts 2:41
Questions to explore
What did the visitors hear in their own languages?
Look for the words describing the message the crowd heard, not just the miracle itself.
Acts 2:11
How did different people in the crowd respond to what they saw and heard?
Find at least two different reactions in the passage, including both sincere questions and mocking words.
Acts 2:12, Acts 2:13, Acts 2:37
What did Peter tell the people to do, and what happened to those who received his word?
Read the command Peter gave and then the outcome for those who accepted it.
Acts 2:38, Acts 2:41
Make, think or respond
Pentecost Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or textas
- Scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Write or draw eight moments from the passage on separate cards.
- Mix the cards up and ask children to place them in the order the passage gives.
- Read each verse again and check the order together.
- Ask children to point to the cards showing God’s action and the cards showing people’s responses.
This activity helps children follow the order of Acts 2:1–13 and Acts 2:37–41 and notice the choices and outcomes in the passage.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the cards in advance with simple pictures and use fewer steps from the story.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add the verse reference to each card and explain why each event belongs in that place.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “God, thank you for the mighty works spoken about in this passage. Please help us listen carefully to your word and respond with willing hearts.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 2
1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.
6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
12 They were all amazed and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
40 With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.