93. Peter & Cornelius
Acts 10-11:18Background Scripture (read 2-3 times during the week)
Story Summary
The Book of Acts begins with the story of the resurrected Christ giving final instructions to his disciples, culminating with this promise: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8 ESV)
We have followed along as this promise was fulfilled with the disciples. They received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter and the rest of the disciples were witnesses of his resurrection in Jerusalem - even getting thrown in jail, beaten, and killed for it - and as a result they were scattered throughout the region in Judea and Samaria. Philip was sent to Samaria and ministered there and then reached a man from Ethiopia (the ends of the earth). Paul was converted and began ministering in Jerusalem and Judea to the Jews.
In the story of Peter and Cornelius, we continue to learn about how the Gospel is meant for everyone - Jews and Gentiles alike. Two men had visions from God that caused them to cross paths. Cornelius, a Roman soldier who was a follower of God, had a vision in which an angel tells him to send some men to Joppa to fetch a man named Simon Peter, who was staying with a man named Simon the Tanner.
Peter had a strange vision of a white sheet being lowered down from the skies with all sorts of animals on the sheet. A voice told him to eat the animals that were on the sheet. Peter protested, though. Some of the animals on that sheet were deemed unclean by the Law given to Moses. But the voice replied: "Do not say anything is not pure that God has made ‘clean,’" (Acts 10:15). This vision was repeated three times. Peter was confused and was unsure about what it meant.
Just then, the men that Cornelius sent to get Peter arrived. The Holy Spirit told Peter that these men were sent by God and that he should go with him. So he did. And they went back to Caesarea to meet with Cornelius. When they met for the first time, Cornelius fell down and worshipped Peter, apparently thinking he was an angel or a god. But Peter quickly told him to get up - that he was just a man like Cornelius. They compared dreams and Peter was sure what it meant. God was making it clear that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone from all nations, not just for the Jews. While Peter was there, many people believed in Christ, were baptized, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, just like the apostles did on the day of Pentecost!
However, the believers from Judea (Jewish-background Christians) were not happy that Peter was associating with people who weren't Jewish. They didn't think he should be breaking the Jewish rules about not eating with Gentiles. But when they heard Peter's story, they were convinced just like he was that everyone was to be accepted, no matter what country they were from.
In this story, it is important to teach the children the meaning of the word "Gentile". It simply means, "one who is not Jewish".
1. Warm Up get your kids talking and engaged
What is the strangest dream you've ever had?
In today's Bible story, two men had a dream, or a vision, that caused them to meet each other.
2. Teach the Story teach a holistic story
Read story from a Children's storybook Bible for younger children.
For older children, read the story from an age-appropriate Children's storybook Bible or read directly from the Bible.
3. Bible Mastery give them basic Bible skills
Scripture for Kids to Read Aloud Acts 10:1-22; Acts 10:34-35
4. Comprehension Questions make sure they understand the story
First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. What to do if you don't know the answer?
- What were the names of the two men who had visions from God?
- Peter and Cornelius
- What nationality was Cornelius?
- He was a Roman
- What vision did Cornelius see?
- An angel told him to send men to a man named Peter who was staying in Joppa
- What vision did Peter see?
- A sheet coming down from heaven with all sorts of animals in it, and a voice told him to kill the animals and eat them
- Why did Peter not want to do what the voice told him?
- Some of the animals were unclean, and Peter was a devout Jew
- How many times did he see the vision?
- 3 times
- What happened while Peter was trying to figure out what the vision meant?
- The men Cornelius sent showed up
- What did Cornelius do when he first met Peter?
- He fell down to worship him, thinking he was an angel or a god
- After going to Ceasarea with Cornelius and comparing visions, what did Peter determine was the meaning of the vision?
- That God was calling all men, regardless of whether they were Jewish or not
- Why were the Jewish background Christians upset with Peter?
- He broke some of their rules - not eating with Gentiles
- What is a "gentile"?
- Someone who is not a Jew
5. Faith Questions open up a conversation about faith and the gospel; close with prayer
- In this story, Peter learned from God that he accepts people from any country, and so he went and told Cornelius and others about Jesus.
- Who do you know that needs to be told about God?
6. Memory Verse hide God's Word in their heart
Separated
- Cut up small pieces of paper, enough for your class.
- Write Jew on half of the pieces and Gentile on the other half.
- Tape the paper to the bottom of chairs, so your students cannot see them.
- At the beginning of class, ask the student to look under their chair to see if they are a Jew or a Gentile.
- (Jew- Direct descendant from the tribe of Judah. Remaining Israelites.
- Gentile- Descending from people groups other than Israelites)
- Prior to the lesson, your students must separate into Jews and Gentiles. They are not allowed to interact or sit next to one another.
- At the end of the lesson, allow the Jews and Gentiles to sit together and share a snack together.
Baptism Reinforcement Activities
- Repeat activities from the John Baptizing Jesus lesson.
- Repeating past activities is a good way to connect previous lessons and review what they had previously learned.
Following Directions Activity
- Peter and Cornelius both listened to God and followed his directions.
- The directions God gave Cornelius and Peter were unusual to them. Jews and Gentiles did not spend time together during this time (per Jewish laws, not God's laws)
- Have your students practice following directions:
- Students can draw a picture at the direction of the teacher. Give instructions to draw a house or scenery picure, but make the instructions unusual. (Tell them to place the door on the roof or a tree upside down.)
- Play Hullabaloo.
- Create something with legos or sticks at the direction of the teacher.
- Remember to connect the activity back to the example of Peter and Cornelius following God's directions.
Who tells others about God?
- Invite people that share God's story with others.
- A missionary can talk about the people they have ministered to and taught about Jesus.
- A pastor can talk about when God called them to ministry.
- A youth or fellow student can tell about how they tell others in their school, community or family about others.
- It is good to have a variety of people, so the children can understand that God calls all of us to teach others about God.
Animal Throw
- Place animals on the sheet.
- Ask each student to hold on to a part of the sheet.
- Lift sheet up and down.
- Try to keep the animals on the sheet.
Clean and Unclean #2
- Read Leviticus 11.
- Separate stuffed animals into clean and unclean.
- Explain that they could not eat any animals that were unclean.
Clean and Unclean #1
- Read Leviticus 11
- Ask the students to list what animals were clean or unclean.
- Read Genesis 7:2-3
- Noah was asked to bring 7 of every clean animal and 2 of every unclean.
Homemade Animal Parachutes
- Allow each student to choose an animal that they want to parachute from a height
- Allow them to choose the material they would like to use for a parachute and then build it
- Take all the animals and parachutes to a height (a tall ladder, roof of your building, catwalk, etc) and drop them down and let the students observe how their parachute performed