Peter and Cornelius

Moved by the Spirit (Drama)

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Children will act out Acts 10:1-11:18 either by using the attached script or pantomiming actions to a reading of scripture.

Bible Background:

is found in the Bible Background forum.

Lesson Objectives:

1. Children can recall the events of Peter and Cornelius’s story.
2. Children can remember what “God’s voice” says in the script, or the memory verse.
3. Children can find the story of Peter and Cornelius in their Bible.

Supplies Needed:

• Copies of scripts (if using) and Bibles Copies of “And Then” handout
• Biblical costumes (scissors and glue if using handout Bibles in class)
• Sheet
• Animal costumes or body sox (optional)

Advance Preparation:

• Read the biblical background notes and answer the questions raised in the “themes” section to figure out what this story means to you.
• Read through the lesson and decide how best to manage your time.
• You should be familiar with the scripture and with the script.
• For younger ages, pre-tape the dialogue so that all they have to do is pantomime.

Lesson Plan

Opening:

If it is not the first week, or if you have students who have a lot of Biblical background, ask them if they can:
Define “centurion”
Explain the differences between a Jew and a Gentile
Name three or more foods that Jews considered “unclean” or not kosher.
Otherwise, explain these concepts to them so they can understand the context of the story. Another word that might require definition is circumcision. There is no need to get into graphic details – just explain that it was something Jews did to set themselves apart.

Dig:

Act out the drama two times to give children the opportunity to have different roles. Coach them through words, phrases, and ideas to help them understand the story.

Work on staging. Think about what actions each child can do to give life to their role.

Life Application
Work on Bible literacy. Help the children find the story of Peter and Cornelius in the Bible. If you are working with younger children, just have them put their finger on the “10” where the story begins. Then ask them to retell the story of Peter and Cornelius to you. If they get stuck, say “let’s see what the Bible says. Then locate the verse together and read it to them.

Older children will be using their Bibles to answer the following questions:

The idea of these questions is not so much to test the children’s memory of the story, but to encourage them to find the Bible verse where the answer occurs. After an answer is given and the Bible verse named, the whole group should look at that verse and read it together. You do not need to ask every question, but don’t jump back and forth. The idea is that the children will be skimming through the story as they look for the answers.

• What was the name of the centurion? (Acts 10:1)
• What kind of person was Cornelius? (10:2)
• Why did he send his servants for Peter? (10:4-6)
• When did Cornelius’ servants arrive in Joppa? (10:9)
• Where was Peter praying? (10:9, also 10:6)
• What was Peter waiting for when he had his vision? (10:10)
• How was the sheet lowered to the ground (10:11)
• What three types of animals appear in the vision? (10:12)
• What did Peter say to God when he saw the animals? (10:14)
• What happened to the cloth after it appeared the third time? (10:16)
• From where did Cornelius’ servants call for Peter? (10:17)
• Where did the servants sleep that night? (10:23)
• Who went with Peter to Caesarea? (10:23)
• When did Peter go see Cornelius? (10:23-24)
• Who was at Cornelius’ house? (10:24)
• What did Cornelius do when Peter arrived? (10:25)
• What was the first thing Peter said to Cornelius? (10:26)
• Why did the angel appear to Cornelius? (10:31, also 10:4)
• Why were all the people gathered in Cornelius’ home? (10:33)
• In 10:38-42 what events of Jesus’ life does Peter remember?
• What happened while Peter was still speaking? (10:44)
• Why were the circumcised believers amazed? (10:45)
• What did Cornelius and the gentiles do that showed they had the Holy Spirit? (10:46)
• What did Peter do when he realized they had the Holy Spirit? (10:47-48)
• Who criticized Peter? (11:1-2)
• According to Peter’s story, how many believers went with him? (11:12)
• What words of Jesus did Peter remind the apostles/believers of? (11:16)
• What did the apostles/believers do/say after Peter’s story? (11:18)

Do you believe? Have you ever stepped forward like Cornelius to claim Jesus?

Reflection:

As you work through these questions, if you find the children are becoming restless, move on to the journaling activity or run through the play again. The purpose is to improve the children’s Bible skills, not torture them with long periods of sitting still.

Journaling:
Invite the children to think of one particular scene in this story that they particularly like. Tell them to imagine that they are one of the people in the story. It could be a main character, or it could be someone unnamed. Imagine what that person sees, hears, thinks, feels, as that scene unfolds. If they wish, they could turn that into a short play.

For younger children, encourage them to draw a scene through the eyes of one of the characters.

Adjustments for age levels and abilities
For younger children, pre-tape the drama and use puppets.
If you don’t have good readers, have your shepherd or yourself read Peter’s part.

A lesson written by Lisa Martin from: Trinity UCC
Pottstown, PA

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Peter and Cornelius
Drama Script

Cast:

Peter
Apostle
Past Peter
God’s voice

Unclean animals (pig, eagle, snake, camel)
Servant
Cornelius’ servants
Cornelius

Notes:

The story begins with Acts 11 and “flashes back” to Acts 10. Scenes 1 and 5 should take place slightly off to the side, to allow for the main action in scenes 2-4.

There are seven speaking roles. Additional children act out the role of an unclean animal. (Be sure they understand that they must be an animal that Jews were forbidden to eat, not just any animal they want to be.) You can also encourage other children to participate by having them turn lights off and on between scenes.

For younger readers, have an adult teacher/shepherd take on the role of Peter – who does most of the speaking.

For non-readers, tape the story ahead of time, making sure that the different people have very different sounding voices. For example, Cornelius and his servants could have an Italian accent. Peter and Past Peter can be done with the same voice. The children can then pantomime the play or use puppets

If you like, you can use the script the first time and ad lib a second time through.

Script
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Scene 1: The Church in Jerusalem

Apostle: Simon Peter, it is good to see you. You have been gone a long time.

Peter: Too long, Thaddeus, too long. How are things going in Jerusalem?

Apostle: Very well Peter. (pause) But I have heard some things that have disturbed us greatly, Peter, and I need to talk to you about them.

Peter: Oh?

Apostle: I have heard that you have been going to the home of pagans, people who do not follow God’s law, and that you have been eating with them. I have known you a long time, Peter. I know that you are a faithful Jew, and that you would never do anything to go against God’s will.

Peter: What you say is partially true, Thaddeus. I have been going to the homes of pagans, more specifically, to the house of a man named Cornelius. And I have eaten with him.

Apostle: No! Peter! How could you?

Peter: But I was not going against God’s will.

Apostle: What do you mean? The torah – the law of Moses - tells us what we can eat and what is forbidden. You are going against the torah. That means you are going against God’s will!

Peter: Let me explain what happened.

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Scene 2: A rooftop in Joppa

Peter: (narrating while Past Peter acts out the story) I was hungry, and I went up on the rooftop to pray while the meal was prepared and behold, I had a vision.

Unclean animals: (Bring out the cloth and lay it down on the ground as Peter continues speaking)

Peter: (narrating while Past Peter acts out the story) A sheet came down and on it were all kinds of animals that I was forbidden to eat.
Unclean animals: (oink, make other appropriate animal noises)

God’s Voice: Get up, Peter, kill and eat.

Past Peter: No way, God. I’ve never in my life eaten anything that went against your Torah, God. I have never eaten anything profane or unclean.

God’s Voice: What God has made clean, you must not call profane.

Unclean Animals: (pick up sheet and exit)

Peter: (narrating while Past Peter continues to pray) This happened three times. I couldn’t imagine what it could mean.

Past Peter: I can’t imagine what this could mean!

Servant: Simon Peter

Past Peter: (getting up) Yes, O is dinner finally ready? I’m famished.

Servant: Um, not yet, sir, but there is someone here to see you.

Past Peter: To see me?

God’s Voice: What God has made clean, you must not call profane.

Past Peter: (to Servant) Did you hear that?

Servant: (shakes head, no)
(they exit together)

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Scene 3: A Caesarea home, street level

Cornelius’ Servant: Are you Simon Peter?

Past Peter: I am. You are (hesitating) a gentile, are you not?

C’s Servant: Yes. I work for Cornelius. He’s a soldier for the Roman army.

Past Peter: Cornelius? The Roman army? Am, am I in some sort of trouble?

C’s Servant: Cornelius is a centurion, but a good and upstanding man, who is well thought of by all the Jews in Caesarea. He heard an angel telling him to bring you to his house.

Past Peter: Sure. We’ll leave first thing in the morning. I wonder what this means?

God’s Voice: What God has made clean, you must not call profane.

Past Peter: (to C. Servant) Did you hear that?

C’s servant: (shakes head, no)
(they exit together)

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Scene 4: Cornelius’ house

Peter: (narrating) I went the next day to Cornelius’ home. As I entered he fell at my feet.

Cornelius: (on his knees at Peter’s feet) Simon Peter! Praise God that you saw fit to come see a man like me!

Past Peter: Get up! I’m just a human being like you.

Cornelius: But you are so good. You are a disciple of Jesus. You are a good and faithful apostle.

Past Peter: You know, if you had asked me yesterday, I would have said I was better than you, but I had a vision yesterday and I heard God’s voice.

God’s voice: What God has made clean, you must not call profane.

Past Peter: You may not have followed our torah all your life, Cornelius, but God has looked in your heart, and God approves of you. And God does not want me to put down anyone that God sees as acceptable.

Cornelius: Thank you, Peter.

Peter: (narrating) I began telling them about Jesus. As I talked, I could see that the Holy Spirit rested on Cornelius and his friends. I asked anyone if they could imagine a reason why someone who has already received the Holy Spirit should not also receive baptism. No one could answer. (Past Peter and Cornelius pantomime a baptism) So I ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

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Scene 5: Jerusalem Church

Peter: After that, I stayed with Cornelius for several days. You see, Thaddeus, God doesn’t want the message of Jesus to be only for the Jews, but for all people.

Apostle: I don’t know, Peter

Peter: Thaddeus, If God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stop God?

Apostle: (silence for a moment) Yes, I suppose.

God’s voice: What God has made clean, you must not call profane.

Apostle: Wow! God has given eternal life, even to the Gentiles!