The Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost

We begin our IFA: Investigating facts in Acts lessons this week with The Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The Apostles appointed a new Apostle to replace Judas and they taught and baptized all who would listen. There is a flame headband, which is not a new concept. I think I had one as a kid! There is also a flow chart worksheet that can be used with the lesson, or afterwards for a review.

We are beginning our study in the book of Acts. Luke wrote Acts and it is found in the New Testament. We have been learning about the Life of Jesus, and how His death on the cross put an end to the old laws and the new laws were put in place. The Disciples have been preaching and baptizing people like Jesus instructed them. Our lesson is found in Acts 1-2.

After they watched Jesus ascend to Heaven, the Disciples returned to Jerusalem. They went to the upper room and prayed. There were 120 followers of Jesus together in the upper room. (Acts 1:15)

Peter stood up and reminded everyone that Judas the Disciple had betrayed Jesus. (Acts 1:15) They needed to decide on a new Disciple to take his place. They suggested two men: Joseph called Barsabas or Matthias. (Acts 1:23) They prayed to God to show them who should be chosen, and Matthias was picked to be added as the twelfth Disciple.

The Disciples were all together to celebrate the Day of Pentecost. It was a Jewish feast that was celebrated in the Old Testament.

All of a sudden, as they were sitting in the upper room, there was a loud sound like a super strong wind, and it filled the whole house!  (Acts 2:2) And then they saw 'divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them'. (2:4) Something like a huge fireball came and when it divided, one part sat on top of each person's head! The Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit! (Acts 2:4)

Then, Luke tells us that they began to talk in different languages! Not just mumbling but speaking and understanding different languages! Without studying the languages! That is another miracle! Here is something to think about: At this time, there were Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. (Acts 2:5) When they heard the sound of the loud rushing wind, crowds of people came to see what was happening. But they were confused because the words they were hearing were in their own language!

Remember, there are a lot of people from different places, but they were still hearing the messages about the wonderful works of God in their own language! They were so amazed, and they wondered what it meant. (Acts 2:6-12) Some people made fun of them and said they were full of wine.

Peter stood up and told them that since it is only the third hour of the day (9:00 A.M.), we are not drunk! Peter quotes a passage from the Old Testament book of Joel. Peter told them to listen to what he is saying! Peter told them that Jesus proved who He was by miracles, wonders, and other signs from God. You have crucified Him, and God raised Him up just like the patriarch David wrote. (Acts 2:22-37)

At the end of Peter's sermon: Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is our Bible verse for today and is found in Acts 2:38.

Luke tells us that about 3,000 people were baptized that day! In the next lesson, we will continue learning about the early Christians.

This is the flame headband that just seems necessary to have! Not my idea, but something I wanted to add to this post.  I had the students cut their headband out, and they glued torn pieces of red, orange & yellow tissue paper to the flame for something different and fun. This can be colored, painted, etc. Click here to download. 

The new item I created for this lesson is a flow chart. It has fill-in-the-blanks and has a squares for the student to draw a small picture that represents what is written. There is a teacher's visual filled out and this is in black & white. Click here to download.

Click on the picture to print today's worksheet.

You can find all the Acts worksheets here.

Bible verse:  Acts 2:38

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

Used by permission. 

Click here to download the lesson.

Click here to download the updated visuals.

The download includes visuals for Acts 1-2.

All are not shown that are included.

Click here to download the pictures to color.

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