Peter’s Arrest by Herod and Miraculous Release for JSS 3

Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 8
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: God’s Intervention and Protection in the Early Church
Previous Lesson: Saul’s Persecution of the Early Church
Topic: Persecution OF THE EARLY CHURCH
Subject Matter: Arrest of Peter by Herod b); Peter’s miraculous release from prison

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Describe the arrest of Peter by Herod.
• Describe Peter’s miraculous release from prison.
• Identify the role of prayer in Peter’s release.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate God’s power to deliver His servants from danger.
• Develop a spirit of perseverance and faith in times of persecution.

Social Domain

• Discuss the importance of communal prayer in challenging situations.

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 12:1-19)
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• A Holy Bible
• Pictures or charts depicting Peter’s arrest and release
• Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important as it teaches students about God’s faithfulness and power to protect His followers, even in the face of severe persecution. It encourages students to trust in God’s divine intervention and highlights the significance of prayer in overcoming challenges, reinforcing their faith.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have prior knowledge of the early church, some of its key figures like Peter, and the general concept of persecution faced by early Christians.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Persecution OF THE EARLY CHURCH: Peter’s Arrest and Miraculous Release

Introduction to Persecution of the Early Church

The early church faced significant persecution from both Jewish and Roman authorities. This persecution aimed to suppress the spread of Christianity but often led to its growth and demonstrated God’s power.

Peter’s Arrest by Herod

King Herod Agrippa I, to gain favour with the Jews, began persecuting members of the church. He had James, the brother of John, executed by the sword. Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Herod intended to bring Peter to public trial after the Passover.

Peter was heavily guarded in prison, bound with two chains, and placed between two soldiers, with sentries guarding the entrance.

Peter’s Miraculous Release from Prison

While Peter was in prison, the church earnestly prayed to God for him.

On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Quick, get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

The angel then instructed Peter to put on his cloak and sandals and follow him. Peter followed, thinking it was a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. They walked down one street, and then the angel left him.

Peter then realised that the Lord had truly sent His angel to rescue him from Herod and all that the Jewish people were expecting.

Peter’s Return to the Disciples

Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people were gathered and praying. When he knocked at the outer door, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognising Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the door and ran inside to tell everyone that Peter was at the door. The others thought she was out of her mind or that it was Peter’s angel. When they finally opened the door, they were astonished to see Peter.

Peter motioned for them to be quiet and told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. He then left to another place.

Herod’s Death

The next morning, Herod searched for Peter but could not find him. He interrogated the guards and ordered that they be executed. Shortly after, Herod went to Caesarea and delivered a public address. Because he accepted praise from the people as a god and did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Lessons from Peter’s Arrest and Release

1. God answers the prayers of His people.
2. God protects His servants from evil.
3. Persecution cannot stop the work of God.
4. We should remain faithful to God even in difficult times.
5. Pride goes before a fall (Herod’s death).

Bible Reading

Acts 12:1-19

Memory Verse

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” – Acts 12:5 (NIV)

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Recalling/Engaging

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reminds students about the persecution faced by the early church and asks them to recall any instances of persecution they know from previous lessons or general knowledge.

Pupils’ Activity: Students recall and share examples of early church persecution.

Learning Point: Early church persecution context

Step 2: Peter’s Arrest by Herod

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Narrating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher narrates the account of Peter’s arrest by King Herod Agrippa I, explaining the reasons behind it and how Peter was imprisoned, referencing Acts 12:1-4.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen attentively and ask questions for clarification.

Learning Point: Peter’s arrest by Herod

Step 3: The Church’s Prayer

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guiding/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher highlights the church’s response to Peter’s imprisonment, emphasizing their earnest prayers, as stated in Acts 12:5. The teacher asks students about the power of prayer.

Pupils’ Activity: Students discuss the importance of prayer and its role in the situation.

Learning Point: Church’s earnest prayer

Step 4: Peter’s Miraculous Release

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Illustrating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher vividly describes Peter’s miraculous release from prison by an angel, detailing the chains falling off, passing the guards, and the iron gate opening by itself, referencing Acts 12:6-11.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen to the narration and visualize the events.

Learning Point: Peter’s miraculous release

Step 5: Peter’s Return to the Disciples

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Reading

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains Peter’s journey to Mary’s house, the reaction of Rhoda and the other disciples, and Peter’s subsequent departure, using Acts 12:12-17.

Pupils’ Activity: Students follow along in their Bibles if available and discuss the disciples’ reactions.

Learning Point: Peter’s return to church

Step 6: Herod’s Fate and Lessons

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Applying

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly explains Herod’s death and then guides students to identify the key lessons from the entire account, including God’s power, the importance of prayer, and the consequences of pride.

Pupils’ Activity: Students contribute to identifying the moral lessons.

Learning Point: Lessons from Peter’s story

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. Who arrested Peter and why?
2. How was Peter guarded in prison?
3. Describe how Peter was miraculously released from prison.
4. What was the church doing while Peter was in prison?
5. Mention two lessons learned from Peter’s experience.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding Peter’s story

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 Peter’s arrest and miraculous release into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Recording lesson summary

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reiterates that God is always faithful to His people and can deliver them from any situation, encouraging students to always trust and pray to Him.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and affirm the lesson’s conclusion.

Learning Point: God’s faithfulness and power

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your CRS notebook:

1. Read Acts 12:1-19 again. In your own words, summarize the story of Peter’s arrest and release.
2. What role did prayer play in Peter’s release?
3. How can you apply the lessons from Peter’s experience to your own life when facing difficulties?

Lesson Keywords

• Herod – The king who persecuted the early church.
• Persecution – Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs.
• Miraculous – Occurring through divine or supernatural intervention, not explicable by natural or scientific laws.
• Angel – A spiritual being believed to be a messenger of God.
• Rhoda – The servant girl who recognized Peter’s voice.

Differentiation

For students who struggle, the teacher can provide a simplified summary of the biblical account and focus on the main events and lessons. Advanced students can be encouraged to research other instances of persecution in the early church or discuss the theological implications of divine intervention.

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search YouTube for “Peter’s arrest and release JSS3 CRS”