Persecution of Peter and John in the Early Church for JSS 3

Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: Persecution of the Early Believers
Previous Lesson: The Holy Spirit, Honesty and Fellowship in the Early Church
Topic: Persecution OF THE EARLY Believers
Subject Matter: Arrest of Peter and John Acts 4:1-31

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Describe the events leading to the arrest of Peter and John as recorded in Acts 4:1-31.
• Explain the defence presented by Peter and John before the Sanhedrin.
• State the decision of the council concerning Peter and John.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the courage and boldness of Peter and John in proclaiming the gospel.
• Recognise the importance of prayer in times of persecution.

Psychomotor Domain

• Recite key verses from Acts 4 related to Peter and John’s testimony.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2014 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• The Holy Bible (Acts 4:1-31)
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• A Bible
• Pictures depicting the arrest of Peter and John (if available)
• A chart showing key events from Acts 4:1-31

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important as it teaches students about the challenges faced by early Christians in spreading the gospel. It highlights the apostles’ unwavering faith and courage, providing valuable lessons on standing firm in one’s beliefs. Understanding this historical context helps students appreciate the foundations of the Christian faith and apply principles of boldness and prayer in their own lives.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of the early church, the apostles, and the miracles performed by Jesus and His disciples.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Persecution OF THE EARLY Believers

Arrest of Peter and John (Acts 4:1-31)

The arrest of Peter and John occurred after they had healed a lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple in Jerusalem. This miracle caused a stir among the people, attracting a large crowd. As Peter was explaining that the healing was done in the name of Jesus Christ, the Sadducees, the captain of the temple guard, and the priests became annoyed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

The key events are:

1. The Healing and Arrest (Acts 4:1-4): Peter and John healed a lame man. The religious leaders, particularly the Sadducees, were disturbed by their teaching about Jesus’ resurrection and had them arrested and put in jail overnight.
2. Peter and John before the Council (Acts 4:5-12): The next day, Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high council), which included Annas, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander. They questioned the apostles by what power or name they had performed the miracle. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declared that the healing was done by the power of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they had crucified but God raised from the dead. He proclaimed that salvation is found in no one else.
3. The Council’s Dilemma and Decision (Acts 4:13-18): The council members were astonished by the boldness of Peter and John, especially noting that they were uneducated and ordinary men. They recognised that the apostles had been with Jesus. Seeing the healed man standing with them, they could not deny the miracle. They commanded Peter and John not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus anymore.
4. Peter and John’s Response and Release (Acts 4:19-22): Peter and John replied to the council, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” The council, unable to punish them further because of the people, threatened them again and released them.
5. Prayer of the Believers (Acts 4:23-31): After their release, Peter and John returned to their fellow believers and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said. The believers then prayed together, asking God for boldness to continue speaking His word and for more signs and wonders to be performed. As they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Moral Lessons from the Persecution of Peter and John

1. Boldness in Witnessing: Peter and John demonstrated great courage in proclaiming Jesus Christ, even in the face of threats from powerful religious leaders.
2. Power of the Holy Spirit: Their boldness was a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak God’s word without fear.
3. Importance of Prayer: The early believers responded to persecution with corporate prayer, seeking God’s strength and guidance.
4. God’s Sovereignty: Despite opposition, God’s plan for the spread of the gospel continued, and the church grew.
5. Obedience to God over Man: Peter and John prioritised obeying God’s command to preach over human commands to be silent.

Memory Verse

Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Bible Reading

Acts 4:1-31

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Bible Reading, Storytelling

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the lesson by asking students if they know what “persecution” means and if they have heard of people being punished for their beliefs. The teacher then briefly introduces the context of the early church facing opposition.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to questions and share their understanding of persecution.

Learning Point: Understanding persecution concept

Step 2: The Healing and Arrest

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Bible Reading

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to read Acts 4:1-4, explaining the miracle of the lame man’s healing and why the religious leaders were upset, leading to Peter and John’s arrest.

Pupils’ Activity: Students read the Bible passage and listen to the explanation, asking questions for clarity.

Learning Point: Cause of apostles’ arrest

Step 3: Peter and John before the Council

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Analysis

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads students through Acts 4:5-12, discussing Peter’s bold defence before the Sanhedrin and his declaration that salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. The teacher highlights Peter’s courage and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Pupils’ Activity: Students participate in the discussion, identifying key points of Peter’s speech.

Learning Point: Peter’s bold defence

Step 4: The Council’s Dilemma and Decision

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains Acts 4:13-18, focusing on the council’s reaction to Peter and John’s boldness and the undeniable miracle. The teacher discusses the council’s decision to forbid them from speaking in Jesus’ name.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and discuss the council’s predicament and decision.

Learning Point: Council’s decision and dilemma

Step 5: Peter and John’s Response and Release

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Reading/Interpretation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to read Acts 4:19-22, emphasising Peter and John’s unwavering commitment to obey God rather than men. The teacher explains their release.

Pupils’ Activity: Students read the passage and discuss the significance of the apostles’ response.

Learning Point: Obedience to God

Step 6: Prayer of the Believers

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses Acts 4:23-31, highlighting how the believers responded to the persecution with prayer for boldness. The teacher explains the immediate result of their prayer (the shaking of the place and being filled with the Holy Spirit).

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and discuss the power of prayer in times of difficulty.

Learning Point: Power of believers’ prayer

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Why were Peter and John arrested?
2. What was Peter’s main message to the Sanhedrin?
3. What did the council command Peter and John not to do?
4. How did Peter and John respond to the council’s command?
5. What did the early believers do after Peter and John were released?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding Peter and John’s persecution

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the arrest of Peter and John and the moral lessons into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson information

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher concludes the lesson by reminding students that like Peter and John, Christians today may face challenges for their faith but should remain bold and prayerful, trusting in God’s power.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and reflect on the lesson’s main message.

Learning Point: Upholding Christian faith

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. Read Acts 4:1-31 again. In your own words, describe the events that led to Peter and John’s arrest and their appearance before the Sanhedrin.
2. Identify two moral lessons you have learned from the story of Peter and John’s persecution and explain how you can apply them in your daily life.

Lesson Keywords

• Persecution – Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs.
• Apostles – The twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ.
• Sanhedrin – The supreme council of the ancient Jews, primarily a judicial body.
• Boldness – Willingness to take risks and act with confidence.
• Resurrection – The act of rising from the dead.

Differentiation

For students who may struggle, the teacher can provide a simplified summary of Acts 4:1-31 and focus on the main characters and events. For advanced learners, the teacher can encourage them to research other instances of persecution in the early church and compare them with the experience of Peter and John.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, students can search for “Peter and John before the Sanhedrin” on YouTube.