Mesa Valley Church of Christ Grand Junction, Colorado
Illustration for Peter Preaches in Jerusalem

Acts — the church begins Ages 5–11 Story 20 of 25

Acts 2 · ESV memory verse below

Peter Preaches in Jerusalem

Who is this?

Peter stood with the other apostles. He preached Jesus to people in Jerusalem.

What happened?

About three thousand people believed, were baptized, and were added to the church.

The story

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together. God poured out His Spirit. Visitors from many nations heard of the mighty works of God.

Peter stood with the eleven and preached Jesus: they crucified Him, and God raised Him up. God has made Him both Lord and Christ.

They were cut to the heart and asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter answered, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Those who received his word were baptized—about three thousand souls. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Memory verse (ESV)

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:38

Talk about it

Ages ~4–7

  1. What day was it when Peter preached?
  2. What had the people done to Jesus, and what had God done?

Ages ~8–12

  1. What question did the hearers ask?
  2. What two things did Peter tell them to do, and for what?
  3. What four things did the new disciples continue in?

Family activity

Read Acts 2:38 aloud. Clap once for “repent,” once for “be baptized,” once for “forgiveness.”

Parent take-home

Read Acts 2:22–42. Keep Peter’s answer whole: repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins. Practice Acts 2:38; clap once for each part of the verse.

Talk on the way home

  1. What question did the people ask after they heard about Jesus?
  2. What did Peter tell them to do?
  3. What four things did the new disciples keep doing?

Longer family guide: Week 16 on the family page.

Print coloring and activities (PDF) All children’s stories

In the PDF: coloring page, memory verse with blanks, plus kid activities (sequence). Number the boxes 1–4 in story order, or cut and rearrange.

For parents and teachers

This is how the gospel was first preached after Jesus went to heaven. Keep Peter’s words intact—repent, and be baptized, for the forgiveness of sins. Show children that the church began with the word, not with a building.