Seminary
Acts 10–15

Acts 10–15

Overview

After His Resurrection, Jesus Christ commanded His Apostles to teach and baptize people from all nations (see Matthew 28:19). This commandment began to be fulfilled when a righteous Gentile named Cornelius and the Apostle Peter received revelations and were divinely directed to each other. Peter baptized Cornelius, and from there the gospel spread to the Gentiles. But some still opposed the work of the Apostles, which is what happened when the Apostle James was martyred and Peter was imprisoned. After many prayers of the righteous, Peter was freed from prison by an angel. Desiring to help fulfill the charge to teach all nations, the Apostles Paul and Barnabas departed on a mission. They also faced much opposition but were blessed with much success; many of the Gentiles they taught accepted the gospel of Christ. Questions arose about the need for Gentile converts to be circumcised and adhere to the law of Moses. The question was taken to Peter and other Church leaders, who counseled together and received revelation on the matter.  

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

Acts 10, Part 1

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students view other people more as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ view them.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to pay attention to how they view and treat the people around them and why they act this way. Ask them to be ready to share a few insights from their observations.

  • Video: Peter’s Revelation to Take the Gospel to the Gentiles (3:29–7:44)

  • Images: Image of clouds

  • Materials for students: Materials such as paper and colored pencils for students to create illustrations

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: If students are invited to draw Peter’s vision, invite them to adjust their view of participants so that when each person shares and explains, that person’s image fills the screen. This will make it easier for all students to see one another’s drawings.

Acts 10, Part 2

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students increase their understanding of how their Heavenly Father may reveal His will to them.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to identify needs or concerns in their lives that they would like revelation about.

  • Videos: “Patterns of Light” (3:04); “Let the Holy Spirit Guide” (15:45; watch from time code 14:41 to 15:18)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: As students review the events in Acts 10:1–28, 44–48, consider displaying the text of these verses and allowing students to highlight or mark the verses they like as a class using the “Annotate” function.

Acts 11, 15

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students deepen their understanding of how the Savior directs His Church through revelation to His prophet and apostles.

  • Student preparation: Invite the students to read Guide to the Scriptures, “Revelation,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and to come prepared to share what they understand about how the Lord reveals His will to His prophets.

  • Handout: Prepare sufficient copies of the handout.

  • Video: “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” (20:27; watch from time code 10:46 to 12:14)

Acts 12:1–19

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students develop greater trust in Heavenly Father and His answers to prayer.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share an experience where prayers were answered the way they or others had hoped and an experience where prayers were seemingly unanswered or answered in a different way than hoped.

  • Videos: “Principles of Peace: Prayer” (2:49); “Watch Ye Therefore, and Pray Always” (15:01; watch from time code 12:17 to 13:07); “Healing the Sick” (17:34; watch from time code 15:19 to 16:55)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting a local Church leader whom students know to participate and share experiences of prayers being answered both in ways hoped for and in ways not hoped for. Alternatively, invite a student to have a family member share their experiences with prayer with the class. Be sure to receive appropriate approvals from local Church leaders and the local Seminaries and Institutes coordinator before inviting visitors to speak to your class.

Doctrinal Mastery Review 14

Lesson purpose: This lesson will give students an opportunity to deepen their understanding of and explain truths about one or more of the doctrinal mastery passages from the New Testament.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to review the doctrinal mastery passages that will be studied in this lesson and to come ready to discuss them. Students could use the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022) or the Doctrinal Mastery app to help them review.

    Note: A doctrinal mastery passage lesson may need to be taught in place of this review lesson. Refer to the pacing schedule provided by the area or region director or coordinator to ensure that each doctrinal mastery passage lesson will be taught while seminary is in session.

  • Content to display: Matching activity

  • Video: “President Nelson—The Scriptures Teach Us about Jesus Christ (for Youth)” (0:59)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Students could be divided into breakout rooms to discuss the questions at the end of the lesson.