A Walk Through Acts: An Overview of the Acts of the Apostles in 26 Lessons

An Overview of the Acts of the Apostles in 26 Lessons

illustrated by kaitlin gallimore

arlyn kantz

A Walk Through Acts

Text copyright © 2024 Arlyn Kantz

Illustrations copyright © 2024 Kaitlin Gallimore

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. However, permission is granted for multiple photocopies of individual pages (not exceeding 1 copy per pupil) to be made by or for a teacher giving a course for classroom use or for discussion.

All Old Testament quotations, unless otherwise identified, are from the Orthodox Study Bible, 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology (published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee) and are used by permission.

New Testament quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., and are used by permission.

Prayer for clergy—found in A Pocket Prayer Book, prepared by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese—used with permission.

Arlyn Kantz photo credit: Robert Guarnieri

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Resource

Activities

1 252

Activities

Activities

3 269

Activities

4 275

Icon of St. Peter; Icon of St. John 34; 41 Ages 5–8:

Ages

Activities Lesson 5 279

St. Peter Escapes Prison 42

All Ages: Miraculous Peace in the Middle of Conflict 279

Prayer Card: Kontakion for Saint Peter the Apostle 282

Activities Lesson 6 284

The Stoning of St. Stephen 52

All Ages: The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church 284

Prayer Card: Apolytikion of St. Stephen the Protomartyr 286

Activities Lesson 7 288

Icon of St. Philip 62

Ages 5–8: Gospel Ripple Effect 288

Ages 9–12: A Taste of Bitterness 289

Memory Verse: Matthew 7:21 290

Activities Lesson 8 292

St. Philip and the Ethiopian 72

Ages 5–8: Riding the Chariot 292

Ages 9–12: Artists, Icons, and Ethnicities 294

Memory Verse: Acts 8:36–37 296

Activities Lesson 9 298

St. Paul Encounters Christ 82

All Ages: The Road to Damascus 298

Memory Verse: Acts 9:4–5 301

Activities Lesson 10 303

Icon of St. Barnabas 136

Icon of St. Tabitha 92

All Ages: Encourage Like Barnabas 303

Prayer Card: Kontakion of Apostle Barnabas of the Seventy 304

Activities Lesson 11 306

St. Peter’s Vision 102

Icon of St. Cornelius 109

Ages 5–8: St. Peter’s Travels 306

Ages 9–12: St. Cornelius 308

Prayer Card: Kontakion of Holy Cornelius 312

Activities Lesson 12 314

Icon of St. Paul 112; 243

Icon of Sts. Barnabas and Paul 119

Ages 5–8: Pictorial Review 314

Ages 9–12: The Half-Way-Through Review 317

Memory Verse: Acts 11:23 321

Activities Lesson 13 323

Transfiguration Icon 120

Ages 5–8: Break that Chain 323

Ages 9–12: The Jail Break 324 Memory Verse: Psalm 33:8 327

Activities Lesson 14 329 Sts. Paul and Barnabas Ordained 128

Ages: Ordination Service 329

Prayer Card: Prayer for Clergy 331

Activities Lesson 15 333

Icon of St. Paul 112; 243

Ages 5–8: St. Paul’s First Mission Trip 333

Ages 9–12: St. Paul Establishes Churches 333

Memory Verse: Acts 14:21–22 336

Activities Lesson 16 338

Icon of St. Lydia 146; 339

All Ages: St. Lydia and the Color Purple 338

Prayer Card: Troparion to St. Mark 340

Copyright

Activities Lesson 17 342

Sts. Paul and Silas Escape Prison 156; 343

All Ages: Sts. Paul and Silas and the Jesus Prayer 342

All Ages: Sts. Paul and Silas

Pray and Sing in Jail 344

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:12 346

Activities Lesson 18 348

Icon of Sts. Priscilla and Aquila 166

All Ages: Tent Making 348

Prayer Card: Troparion to St. Aquila 350

Activities Lesson 19 352

Seraph Icon 176

Ages 5–8: St. Paul’s Handkerchief 352

All Ages: Our Relics 353

Memory Verse: Acts 19:11–12 354

Activities Lesson 20 356

Riot at Ephesus 186

Ages 5–8: Idol Makers 356

Ages 9–12: Heart Check 356

Memory Verse: 1 Timothy 6:10 358

Activities Lesson 21 360

Eutychus Has a Great Fall 194

All Ages: Eutychus in the Window 360

Prayer Card: Kontakion of St. Luke 362

Activities Lesson 22 364

Roman Soldier 202

Ages 5–8: St. Paul in Chains 364

Ages 9–12: St. Paul Preaches to a Riot 366

Memory Verse: Philippians 3:8 368

Activities Lesson 23 370

St. Paul in Chains 210; 365

All Ages: Letters to Prisoners 370

All Ages: Bound Together 372

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:19–20 373

Activities Lesson 24 375

Roman Round Ship 218

All Ages: Stormy Weather 375

Memory Verse: Psalms 88:9–10 377

Activities Lesson 25 379

St. Paul Bitten by a Viper 228

All Ages: Snake into the Fire 379

Memory Verse: Acts 28:30–31 381

Activities Lesson 26 383

Acts of the Apostles Overview 236

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:4–7 384

Songs 386

New Testament Books of the Bible 386

Jesus Went Up and the Spirit Came Down 386

Christ Is Risen (Vladimir Morosan) 387 Acts 3:1–8

Peter and John Went to Pray 388

Philippians 4: 4–6

Rejoice in the Lord 389

The Jesus Prayer 390 How

391 The Jesus Prayer 391 The Lord’s Prayer 391

INTRODUCTION

Christ is in our midst! I am humbled to offer this study on the Book of Acts for children. I pray your use of these materials will deepen your love for Holy Scripture and the Church.

For Best Results

Every classroom is impacted by the personality of the teacher and the personality of the students. Some lessons will excite students immediately, and some will sink in slowly— but the enthusiasm and genuineness of the teacher will have the most impact on the students. These materials are designed to be conversational—to build spiritual interactions within the context of Holy Scripture.

Each lesson is presented as a detailed script. Questions are sprinkled throughout for the purpose of pausing for class discussion. Adhering to the script is not crucial. In fact, it is better to highlight the main points based on the ages and understanding of the students in your class and to teach using your own words. An outline is included at the end

of each lesson—Create Your Own Outline— allowing you to jot down notes and make the lesson your own.

Class Dynamics

Depending on the personality of your students, you may have to guard against a handful of children dominating a discussion or taking the lessons off track. Yet there is nothing wrong with gearing your discussions toward topics the students seem interested in: it is preferable to allow short interactions on topics that seem tangential than to have silent faces stare back.

Once students get used to the flow and expectation of the lesson, they will find exploring the scripture together in a safe and loving environment to be an activity they happily anticipate. You will know each other well by the end of the series. In fact, you may begin to anticipate their questions and responses as you prepare for each session ahead of time.

Scripture study is a lifelong adventure, and seeds can be planted early on. Pray for your students by name. Pray that they will sense that their teacher loves them, that they are loved by Christ, and that they develop a love for the Scriptures.

Lesson Pacing Throughout the Year (for Sunday school programs)

There are twenty-six lessons in A Walk Through Acts and approximately thirty-one Sundays in a school year. Look ahead and plot out the year, planning to take breaks for special activities according to the Church’s liturgical calendar—especially during the Paschal and Nativity seasons and for Sundays that are important to your parish. For example, you may wish to set aside the Sunday nearest your parish’s feast day to present a study on the patron saint of your church. Or, consider having your Sunday school space blessed on the Sunday of Theophany accompanied by a time of decorating small bottles for holy water. Another useful activity is setting aside a Sunday for a review game, culling questions from past lessons. Depending on class size and group dynamics, you can divide students into teams to compete. This is helpful both halfway through the series and as a fun way to wrap up.

Basic Classroom Materials

Materials specific to each lesson are listed at the beginning of that lesson. These lists assume that each classroom space has basic supplies on hand. If you are working in a shared space, or a designated classroom is unavailable, we suggest a small tote contain-

ing paper and pens, glue sticks, dry-erase markers, markers, colored pencils, scissors, crayons, and the Orthodox Study Bible. If the space you are working in does not have a whiteboard or chalkboard, we suggest butcher paper for lessons when group note taking or list making is necessary.

Parish Icons

Many of the lessons in A Walk Through Acts use icons as teaching tools. We have provided many icon images illustrated for your use in the classroom. However, if an icon of the same saint or feast day mentioned in a particular lesson can be found within your parish, we greatly encourage you to interact with that, as it is already familiar to your students. This interaction will link real-time church life and veneration to the Bible lessons they are learning.

Basic Spiritual Knowledge

Some students will come into class knowing very little. A Walk Through Acts provides an opportunity to show students how scripture is divided into chapters and verses. If class time permits, guide students in finding the scriptures pertinent for each lesson and have students volunteer to read from the Orthodox Study Bible.

Also, always be ready to show new students how to make the sign of the cross. This is a beautiful opportunity to share the fundamental truth of the Trinity and Christ’s victory over death. An illustration of how to make the sign of the cross is included in the Resource Section at the end of this book. Copyright

Additional Lesson Resources

Many learning activities are embedded directly into the lessons, but due to the wide range of teaching situations, the publisher has made the prudent decision to include supplementary resources in an appendix. Every lesson has a coloring sheet appropriate to the material, and many lessons have an additional song or extension activity created, so be sure to familiarize yourself with all your options. Teachers in the trenches know best.

Also, the section Facts About Acts can help you become familiar with daily life in New Testament times.

In Gratitude

Not only do I owe a debt of gratitude to various Sunday school teachers and Bible professors in my childhood, I am also thankful to St. Peter Classical School for assigning me the library as my classroom. Access to a plethora of research materials greatly aided in the creation of this work. Lastly, I want to give my deep-felt appreciation to Fr. Chrysostom and the Sunday school teachers of Archangel Gabriel in Weatherford, TX, for piloting these materials and providing so much encouragement.

—Arlyn Kantz

LESSON ONE

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ACTS 1:9

The Book of Acts: Chapter 1

The Son Goes Up

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• The Acts of the Apostles, written by St. Luke, tells the history of the very beginning of Christ’s Church.

• Christ ascended bodily to heaven forty days after His resurrection.

• Christ will return to earth in the same manner as He left.

Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/a-walk-through-acts/

TEACHER PREPARATION

After His Resurrection, Jesus spends forty days with His apostles, making them ready to be ministers of His Church. He tells them He will be leaving soon and will send the Holy Spirit in His place. The apostles then witness Christ’s bodily Ascension into the heavenly realms.

Notes from the Fathers

For the forty days post-Resurrection, Jesus spent time with the apostles and transformed them from men who hid and fled to men who boldly shared the good news.

The apostles were witnesses to the Ascension in which Christ was enthroned in His flesh in the heavenly realms, making a way for all flesh to commune with the Holy Trinity.

Many Orthodox icons of the Ascension show Christ in a manner that seems He could be either coming or going, foreshadowing His return. Christ showed the disciples that through Him it was not only possible for flesh to resurrect but for flesh to ascend.

Materials List

• Icon of St. Luke

• Icon of the Ascension

• Memory verse cards

Class Preparation

• Read Acts 1.

• Read the Lesson Script and highlight the main ideas and important questions.

• Look through the extra activities in the Resource Section to determine whether you will include them in your lesson.

• Copy and cut apart memory verse cards.

LESSON SCRIPT

The Book of Acts continues the story where the Gospel of Luke ends. Saint Luke wrote them both. Before we talk more about what Luke wrote, does anyone know anything about him? [Show icon of St. Luke on pg 17.]

Facts about St. Luke:

• Luke was a traveling companion of St. Paul and is mentioned in several of his letters.

• He was a well-educated physician.

• Luke spent time with Mary the Theotokos, getting more information from her than any other gospel writer.

• He was an iconographer.

The Gospel of Luke covers the story of Christ’s life on earth from His Birth to His Ascension into heaven. The Book of Acts continues the story from the Ascension to the establishment of Christ’s Church.

Before Christ left His followers with the job of starting the Church, He told them what would happen to them and what would happen through them.

Jesus predicted:

• “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony” (Matt. 10:18).

• “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations” (Matt. 24:14).

• “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12).

As we study Acts, let’s watch and see if these three things happen. [Write the following on the board.]

PERSECUTION

[Explain how people can hurt you because of what you believe and how this hurt can be legal, verbal, or social.]

CHURCH GROWTH

[Explain how people were becoming Christians, which made the Church grow.]

MIRACLES

[Explain how God can bless people or show His power by doing extraordinary things. Gauge what your students know by asking them to name a few of Christ’s miracles.]

After Jesus died a horrible death, how many days did He stay dead? (Three.)

Did you know Christ spent time on earth to encourage and teach His disciples after His Resurrection?

Christ appeared to His disciples after the Resurrection, coming and going with surprise visits for forty days. The disciples were so happy and relieved to have Jesus back from the dead. The person they believed in

and who held the future, the Man who had shown power over demons, sickness, sin, and even the weather, and had been put to a shameful death was now back! They just had the biggest tragedy imaginable undone. Their deepest sorrow instantly changed into unimaginable joy.

How would you feel if someone you loved with your whole heart came back from the dead? How would you act? (Possible answer: I would never let them out of my sight, hug and never let go.)

Jesus did not stay constantly with the apostles. He kept appearing when they least expected it and then disappeared again. And He continually talked about leaving them again! How would you feel if Jesus told you He was leaving again?

Jesus told His apostles that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, was going to come down and empower them. But they did not fully understand what that meant. What could be better than having Jesus with them?

How many days did Jesus spend with His disciples, appearing and then disappearing? (Forty.)

At the end of those forty days, Jesus took His small band of believers to the Mount of Olives and said,

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And while they looked steadfastly toward

heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:8–11)

[Show the icon of the Ascension.]

Who do you think the two men were? (Angels.)

How shocked would you be if you saw this happen?

How did the angels say Jesus would come again? (The same way He left. This is a prophecy the Church still awaits. As the Creed states, “He shall come again in glory, whose Kingdom shall have no end.”)

So, since Jesus would no longer be visiting His disciples on earth, His followers went to Jerusalem and awaited the promise of the Holy Spirit.

How long do you think they will have to wait? (We will find out next time.)

Have you ever had to wait and did not really know what it was you were waiting for?

Let’s say I tell you that I will bring a surprise for you, but I say that I will bring it sometime in the future. Would it be hard to trust what I say?

Waiting is a test of trust. Copyright

What Does This Mean for Me?

The apostles trusted that what Christ was saying was true. They dedicated their lives to spreading the message of Jesus’ life and love. They dedicated their lives to the building of the Church, even though they did not know what that work would be like.

What about you? Can you trust God when His plan seems to be different from what you expected?

What does trusting God mean to you?

Looking Back

As we studied passages in Acts today, we read about Christ ascending into heaven forty days after the Resurrection, and we saw how Christ prepared His followers for the future. Did any of Jesus’ predictions come true about what would happen with the apostles? [Point to the whiteboard.]

PERSECUTION

Were the apostles taken to court, accused falsely, or punished? (No.)

CHURCH GROWTH

Did the good news spread throughout the world? (Not yet.)

MIRACLES

Did believers participate in miracles? (We saw a miracle—the Ascension—but nothing yet was performed by believers.)

In the next lesson, with the coming of the Holy Spirit, all that will change.

Options for Ending Class Time

• The Jesus Prayer

• The Lord’s Prayer

• Recite together the lesson’s memory verse and hand out cards

• Prayer requests

CREATE YOUR OWN OUTLINE

Acts 1

Teacher Reference Sheet / Notes

Go over facts about the author of Acts: St. Luke. Show his icon.

Introduce Christ’s three predictions about the apostles’ ministry.

• Persecution

• Church Growth

• Miracles

Review Christ’s death on the cross and how long He was in the tomb.

Discuss how it might feel to be told Christ was leaving again.

Talk about Christ’s time with His disciples between the Resurrection and Ascension.

Read Acts 1:8–11, then show the icon of Ascension.

Discuss how it might feel to have someone you loved with your whole heart come back from the dead.

Talk about the two men who were in white apparel and what they said about Christ’s return.

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Can you trust God when His plan seems to change from what you expected?

Wrap Up

• Persecution (No.)

• Church Growth (Not yet.)

• Miracles (The Ascension happened, but believers have not participated in miracles.)

• Memorization / Prayer / Activities to take home

FACTS ABOUT ACTS

Since the students in your class live a very different life from that of the apostles and the early Christians who lived in and around Jerusalem, knowing some facts about people’s daily lives during the early Church might help you create a more vivid mental picture for your students.

CLOTHING

The people typically wore loose-fitting robes made from cotton, linen, or wool. Changing one’s clothes was not common in daily life— in fact, it was considered a luxury to have multiple outfits.

ENTERTAINMENT

Music and dance were an important part of society and played a role in festivals and temple worship. String, wind, and percussion instruments were widely used. Some instruments—trumpets, in particular—even played a part in warfare.

FAMILY LIFE

Typically, multiple generations of a family lived together. Very large families formed a clan. When a father died, possessions were divided, and the firstborn male received double the portion as the rest of his brothers. The firstborn male was also given special authority over the household and was responsible for each member’s needs. Women married in their early teens and, once married, went from depending on their father’s clan for support to their husband’s clan.

FARMING

The most vital tool for farmers at the time of the early Church was the plow—a wooden

plank with a metal tip. The plow was dragged by oxen to loosen the dirt after it had been softened by the first rainfall of the season. Behind, in the loosened dirt, farmers would throw seeds.

FOOD AND DRINK

Bread was the essential main food. The poor ate bread from barley grain, and the more wealthy ate bread made from wheat. Grain for flour was ground daily by a millstone—a large circular stone that rolled back and forth. In general, food was tied to the seasons, and when crops failed and livestock did not multiply, people went hungry. Meat and dairy were considered a luxury and were saved for special occasions. Fruits—such as melons, pomegranates, and dates—were staples, as were all sorts of vegetables including lentils, beans, and olives (and olive oil). Honey was the main sweetener. To season and preserve food, salt was widely used. Other common seasonings were mustard, cumin, mint, rosemary, garlic, shallots, and onions. Fruit juices, milk, and even diluted vinegar were drunk along with red wine. Weak wine was an important drink since water was often contaminated.

GENTILES AND JEWS

In the Book of Acts, the good news spread from a small group of Jewish believers across the entire Roman empire. Because Jews considered Gentiles to be a lower class of people, undeserving of equal status, many of them found it shocking that the Holy Spirit drew anyone who responded to the preaching of the apostles into the Church. It took some time for the Jewish believers to accept the inclusion of the Gentiles, yet through the Holy Spirit, the change took place in a surprisingly short amount of time. In fact, the reason we

have the Book of Acts is because St. Luke, a Gentile, traveled with St. Paul, a Jew, and became one of his partners in ministry.

GOVERNMENT

The Jews of Jesus’ time were under Roman rule. All through the Book of Acts, disputes arose between the Jews and Christians that had political undertones. The apostles were constantly having to reassure their listeners that Christ came for spiritual reasons and not for political ones, and that they were not interested in political intrigue or revolution.

HOSPITALITY

In the time of the apostles, providing hospitality for strangers was a much more critical service than what it is today. Strangers were welcomed and fed, and sometimes they were even given a place to sleep without any questions about their identity or origin being asked until a relationship had begun to develop. The early Christians were called to be both exemplary guests and hosts, always viewing the stranger as a child of God and offering hospitality as an opportunity to please Him.

HOUSING

While most of the population lived in the countryside in wooden huts or tents, St. Paul visited some cities where people lived in pillared houses. In these homes, the stables, cisterns, and areas for food storage and preparation were on the ground floor. The people slept, dined, and entertained on the second floor. The houses had flat roofs, and in good weather, people could sleep, visit, and pray on the rooftops. The whole family slept in the same room, typically on the floor in either blankets or on thin mattresses stuffed with cotton or wool. They would roll up these blankets or mats during the day and roll them back out at night.

HYGIENE

General hygiene was an important issue for the Israelites. It was tied to both daily life and temple life with strict rules on how and when to cleanse oneself. It was customary to wash one’s face, hands, and feet before prayer or before entering a place of worship. Many towns—and later even the early monasteries—built public bathhouses nearby so people could cleanse regularly. Scented oils were used on the skin to combat the dry weather and provide a pleasing, clean smell.

LUKE

Saint Luke, who wrote the Book of Acts, was a Gentile. The Book of Acts is well written in Greek and shows the level of Luke’s education. We know from tradition that he was both a physician and an artist and painted the first icon of Mary the Theotokos.

MEDICINE

Because of the influence of the Greek world, physicians were common, and medicine was more advanced than is often assumed. Besides asking for aid from God or gods, oils were used as balms; wine and other spirits were used as antiseptics; honey—which is antibacterial—was used for various ailments; and spices, herbs, and other plants were used extensively for other medicinal purposes.

OLIVE OIL

Olive oil was a necessity of life during the time of the early Church. Olives were crushed by a large rolling stone, and then boiling water was poured over the crushed olives to stir the mixture. A layer of oil floated to the top and was skimmed by hand. The olive tree—which typically lives up to five hundred years—was highly valued and was often a generational heritage.

ROMAN RULE

The area of Judea in the time of Jesus and the Book of Acts was controlled by the Roman Empire. The Roman governor ruled Judea alongside the Jewish high priest of the temple. The high priest watched over day-to-day duties, and the governor intervened when there was trouble. From AD 66 to 135, there were several uprisings by the Jews, which resulted in war. In AD 70, the Roman legion destroyed the Jewish temple in Jerusalem— the temple that is mentioned throughout the Book of Acts.

TRAVEL

A day’s journey by foot ranged from sixteen to twenty-two miles. Today, this distance takes twenty minutes by car. Wild animals and robbers made traveling dangerous, so people traveled in groups for security, especially when traveling great distances. While on the road, people relied on the hospitality of others for a warm bed.

WATER

Since there was very little in the way of plumbing, people were dependent on either rain or natural rivers for water collection, both of which were impacted by seasonal factors. Other sources of water included springs, wells, and cisterns that were built to catch and store water for use during seasons of little rainfall. For personal use, water could be carried in animal skin “bottles.” Carrying water was such an important part of daily life that there were even professional water carriers who were paid to do it.

ACTIVITY SUPPLY LIST

Materials needed for all activities are listed in lesson order.

• Colored writing utensils

• Scissors

• Brads

• Tape

• Cotton balls

• Dark thread or yarn

• Poster paper, white board, or black board

• Dry-erase markers, markers, or chalk

• 1–2 ft. live branch with leaves

• Blue painter’s tape

• Large bowl or pan

• Small pebbles, beads, or pennies

• Coffee beans or unsweetened cocoa powder, or both

• Drinking water and plastic spoons

• Small cartons, a thermos of chocolate milk, sweetened cold coffee, or chocolate chips

• Internet access and screen to show images

• Step stool

• Bright flashlight

• Blank note cards or typing paper

• Glue

• Three drinking straws or strips of paper

• Plastic balls, bean bags, or crumpled paper

• Empty wastepaper or laundry basket

• Construction paper or rolls of toilet paper

• Stapler

• Long strip of cloth or scarf

• Handkerchief, piece of cloth, or towel

• Playdough or modeling clay

• Candles

• Plate

• Cup

• Pillow or mat

• Paper

• Envelopes

• Stamps

• Yarn or bandanas

• Cupcakes and icing, or blocks or puzzles

• Blanket, towel, or area rug

• Brown paper

• Rubber or plastic snake

• Red, orange, or yellow tissue paper

Activities LESSON1

CHILDREN AGES 5–8

Drawing Study

Finishing the Ascension Icon (15 minutes)

OBJECTIVE

To increase knowledge of the Feast of Ascension and of iconographic language in the child.

MATERIALS LIST

• Copies of the unfinished Ascension icon for class distribution

• Writing utensils in various colors

DIRECTIONS

To finish the icon, the students can make these additions:

• Add halos around the heads of the Theotokos and the two angels beside her.

• Add cross lines in Christ’s halo.

• Color the halos gold. (Because the apostles surrounding Mary have not yet received the Holy Spirit, most Ascension icons do not show them with halos around their heads yet.)

• Next, add a number of full-body halos—or, circles—around the body of Christ as He ascends. These circles can be colored like a rainbow.

• Finally, add mountains in the background behind the apostles.

SYMBOLOGY REVIEW

• Halos signify sainthood or holiness.

• Only Christ’s halo has cross lines, which show His position in the Trinity.

• Halos are gold to reflect the light of God.

• Mountains symbolize a pathway to God.

NOTE:

The unfinished icon can also be printed in poster size and be a group project that everyone works on. After, it can be displayed for continued reference.

�SCfNSION

Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/a-walk-through-acts/

Add halos around the heads of the Theotokos and the two angels beside her.

Add cross lines in Christ’s halo.

Color the halos gold. Because the apostles

surrounding Mary haven’t yet received the Holy Spirit, most icons don’t show them with halos around their heads quite yet!

Next, add circles—a number of full-body halos—around the body of Christ as He

Copyright

ascends. These circles can be colored like a rainbow.

Finally, add mountains in the background behind the apostles. Mountains are a symbol of a pathway to God.

CHILDREN AGES 5–8

Craft

The Ascension Cloud

(20 minutes)

OBJECTIVE

For young students to work with their hands and to visualize Christ’s Ascension.

MATERIALS LIST

• Cloud paper cutouts for the whole class, big enough to cover the ascending Christ image

• Paper cut-outs of Christ ascending for the whole class

• Brads

• Dark thread or yarn cut into eight- to twelve-inch strands

• Cotton balls, for use if time permits

• Tape

• Scissors

DIRECTIONS

Hand each student a paper cloud and a paper cutout of Christ.

Help students place the brad in the hole in the cloud. One side of the brad will lay flat, and the other will form a hook for the moving string.

Tape one end of the string to the back of the cloud and the other to the back of Christ (near His head).

Loop the string over the brad hook and show students how to raise and lower Christ behind the cloud.

Students can decorate Christ and the cloud with crayons or markers. Cotton balls can also be glued onto the cloud, if time permits.

When the students have their craft assembled, read the following passage as they move Christ up and down:

Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. (Acts 1:8–11)

NOTE:

If your class is large, it may be useful to tape the individual strings to each Christ cutout before class begins. Sample

Activities

CHILDREN AGES 9–12 Worksheet

LESSON 3

Examining the Ascension Icon (20 minutes)

OBJECTIVE

To study the icon of the Ascension and to learn some iconographic symbols. Copyright

EXAMINING THE ASCENSION ICON

Study the icon of the Ascension closely. This icon does not just illustrate a Bible story but is full of symbols.

What do you see from the story in Acts 1?

Do you see anything in the icon not mentioned in that particular scripture?

Count them.

There are twelve apostles gathered around the Mother of God. Should there not be eleven?

It is amazing to think that a man, born of a woman, who walked on earth will now sit in the heavenly realm, face-toface with God.

Who is directly below Christ?

Remember Judas, who was one of the twelve disciples, abandoned our Lord and is now dead. Here, St. Paul is added in his place. Saint Peter is on Mary’s right side, and St. Paul is on her left. Saint Paul’s presence in the icon—even though he was not at the Ascension of Christ—shows his importance in the amazing growth of the Church.

What is missing from the apostles in this icon that is rarely missing in other icons?

Notice how the Theotokos raises her hands toward her Son and has a peaceful look on her face. She seems to understand this mystery while all those around her are confused.

Who are the men standing around Mary?

Halos are not yet on the apostles because the Holy Spirit has not yet descended and filled them. This occurs at Pentecost.

Is there anything else that you notice about this icon?

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

ACTS 1:9

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

ACTS 1:9

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

ACTS 1:9

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

ACTS 1:9

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

ACTS 1:9