Peter Heals Aeneas & Dorcas



Review:  Last week we talked about Philip. He left Jerusalem and went to Gaza, in the desert. He saw a man from Ethiopia. He was the treasurer for the queen. The Eunuch was reading the book of Isaiah in his scrolls. Philip asked if he understood what he was reading. The eunuch said “No” and asked Philip to come on his chariot and explain it to him. When they came to water, he wanted to be baptized. The Eunuch said he believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and they both went down into the water. Philip baptized the eunuch and the eunuch returned home very happy.

Lesson: Scripture is Acts 9:31-43. During this time, the church was growing, and the people feared God. As Peter was traveling through all parts of the country, he stopped to visit the Christians at Lydda (Lud daw). There was a man there named Aeneas. [I nee' as]  He had been paralyzed and bedridden for 8 years. What is paralyzed? Unable to move, with loss of muscle usage or feeling.

Peter told him that Jesus is the One that heals you. Get up and make your bed! He immediately got up! He didn't have to work on it or go to therapy. He just got up. And all the people that saw this miracle believed in God.

In Joppa, there was a lady and her name was Tabitha. She was also called Dorcas. The Bible says she was full of good works and generous deeds. But, it happened that she became sick and then died. They washed her and laid her in an upper room.

The disciples heard that Peter was close by in Lydda (Lud' daw) and sent 2 men begging Peter to come quickly. Peter did return to Joppa with them, and they took him to the upper room where Dorcas was laid out.

All the widows stood by Peter, and they were crying because Dorcas had gotten sick and died. They showed him the clothing that Dorcas had made for them.

Peter sent them all out of the room and knelt down and he prayed. He turned to the body and said "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Peter held out his hand and helped her up.

He called in the Christians that were there and the widows and showed them that Dorcas was alive. Remember your Bible verse for today? And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

Remember, that was why Jesus did miracles. And the Disciples were given the ability do miracles, so people would believe in Jesus.

Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

What do you think Peter did while he was there? He taught as many people as possible
about Jesus and baptized them!

To teach the students they can do good things for others, I have cards printed for them to design, sign and give to someone. They can make more if there is enough time, or they can take it home to finish. But I stress that they are expected to hand out the cards (or ask their parents to mail it), because it's not just a fun project. I expect them to tell someone they are thinking about them and made this card for them. I printed these on cardstock, and they are blank on the inside for the kids to design. I have stickers for them to add that are appropriate. Of course, these can be used for any lesson or activity that you want to teach thinking, praying and doing for others. Click here to download. 

  

Click here to download Dorcas.

Click here to download Aeneas.

You can find all the Acts worksheets here.

Click here to download the lesson.

Click here to download the visuals.

Miracles in Acts 9 visuals include Aeneas and Dorcas.

All visuals are not shown.

Click here to download the pictures to color.

(These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.)

For our project today, I took a snack to class, and we talked about Dorcas sharing, and helping people. That is what God wants us to do. Then we made a card. I printed the cards on different colors of cardstock. They picked one on the table when they came to class.

The kids wrote the name of who they want to give the card to, and then signed it inside. I asked for magazines from people to cut out appropriate pictures they could use, and they added stickers. They can also draw on it to finish it and make it theirs. Here is the very plain card (I wanted them to make it theirs) to print. See the updated version above.

 Bible Verse: Acts 9:42

Passport: Lydda & Joppa

I mentioned to the kids last week that we would be having a snack for this lesson (since Dorcas shared, I am sharing). One of the boys suggested this snack. I said, "That is a good idea, it will remind us of the Eunuch reading the book of Isaiah scrolls." These are so cute! I bought the fruit by the foot and it will make a lot of scrolls! You can see by the picture that I made 2, and there is a lot left! And the stick pretzels were a medium thickness.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Used by permission.