Acts 5
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Peter stood in a big room. Many people around him.
Peter and his friends had told everyone about Jesus. Some men did not like that. They were angry.
"Stop talking about Jesus," they said. They put Peter in prison. A dark, cold prison.
But look! In the night, an angel came. The door opened, all by itself. The angel said, "Go. Stand in the temple. Tell the people about this life."
So Peter went. Right back to the temple. And he talked about Jesus again.
The angry men found him there. "We told you not to teach!" they said.
Peter was not scared. He said, "We must obey God, more than men."
He told them about Jesus. How Jesus died. How God raised him up. How Jesus gives new starts to everyone.
The angry men wanted to hurt Peter. But one wise man stood up. His name was Gamaliel.
"Wait," he said. "If this is only from men, it will stop by itself. But if it is from God, you cannot stop it. Not ever."
What Does This Mean?
The men listened to Gamaliel. They let Peter go. But first, they hurt him. It hurt very much.
Did Peter stop talking about Jesus? No. Not one bit.
He walked out, and he was glad. Glad! Even though it hurt. Because Jesus is worth it.
Every day, Peter kept telling people. In the temple. At home. Always about Jesus.
The Common Thread
Peter said something important. "God raised up Jesus. Jesus is a Savior."
That means Jesus makes bad things new again. He makes hearts clean.
The doors of the prison could not stop God. Nothing can stop God. Not locks, not angry men, not anything.
God always finds a way. He always did. He still does.
For You
Sometimes you might feel scared to talk about Jesus. Maybe someone will laugh.
Peter felt scared too, maybe. But he talked about Jesus anyway.
You can tell someone about Jesus. Even just one small thing. "Jesus loves me." That is enough.
Talk About It
Who opened the prison door for Peter at night?
Why did Peter keep talking about Jesus, even after it hurt?
Praying Together
Dear God,
Thank you for Jesus.
Thank you that nothing can stop you.
Help me to talk about Jesus too.
Even when I feel small.
Amen.
Questions about Acts 5
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Acts 5 about?
What does Acts 5 say?
What does Acts 5 teach us about God?
What others discovered
Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things." Notice what they did with that fear. They stayed. Nobody walked out saying this God is too dangerous. They trembled because they finally believed He was actually in the room. When was the last time God felt that real to you?
Gamaliel stands in a room boiling with rage and offers a strange kind of wisdom: "Withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown." He does not defend the apostles. He simply refuses to fight what might be God.
How often do you rush to shut down what unsettles you, before asking whether God might be behind it?
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
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