Arrest of Peter and John - JSS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note

After the Holy Spirit had descended upon the disciples, they preached the gospel with power and authority. They performed miracles in the name of Jesus Christ. One of the miracles was the healing of the lame man at the beautiful gate of the temple. When Peter and John got to the temple to pray the lame man gazed at them in expectation to receive alms. But Peter looked at him back and said, “Silver and gold, I have not but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus stand up and walk.” Peter then grab the man and pulled him up. Immediately the man got up, limped and began to run.

The people who witnessed this miracle gathered together around Peter and John. Peter quickly used the opportunity to preach to them in the name of Jesus Christ. The authority got angry at the apostles’ preaching because they were preaching about the resurrection of Jesus. This made the religious leaders to arrest Peter and John and put them in prison for one night. Many people who received the message became Christian converts and their number increased to five thousand. The following day Peter and John were brought into the presence of the elders, the scribes, Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, Alexander and members of the high priest family to face the charge brought against them. After serious questioning, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, declared publicly that they performed the miracle in the name of Jesus Christ. The religious council, not knowing what to do and also seeing the man that was healed, they warned the apostles not to preach in the name of Jesus again. But Peter replied them whether it right to listen to man instead of God.