This lesson teaches children that God stays close to us even when we are scared or in trouble. Children ages 5 to 11 can learn it in about 25 minutes, using a story full of danger, a brave young man, and a surprising message from the Lord.
Big Idea
God is with us in every hard moment, and he gives us courage to keep telling the truth about him, even when people are angry with us.
Memory Verse
Acts 23:11
The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”
(WEB)
Teach the children to stand tall, hold both arms up like a strong wall, and then point to the sky on the word “Cheer.” Let them repeat the verse together while they keep the motions going, and invite them to do it again each time they say the word “Lord.”
The Story: Acts 23 for Kids
Paul was standing before a big group of Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. He was a follower of Jesus, and he told them, “I have lived before God with a clear conscience until today.” The high priest, a man named Ananias, got very angry. He told the men standing near him to hit Paul on the mouth. Paul told him that God would one day judge him for doing something that the law did not allow.
The leaders started to argue. Some were Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and some were Pharisees, who did believe in it. Paul said that he was a Pharisee and that he was being judged for his hope in the resurrection. The room became loud and divided, and the Roman commander got worried that Paul would be torn to pieces. So he sent soldiers to bring Paul back to the barracks, which was a safe place for him.
That night, the Lord came to Paul and spoke to him. The Lord said, “Cheer up, Paul, because you have told people about me in Jerusalem, and you will tell them about me in Rome too.” Paul did not have to know how everything would work out. He only had to know that God was with him.
The next morning, more than forty men made a plan to kill Paul. They promised each other that they would not eat or drink until he was dead. But Paul’s nephew, who was a young man, heard about the plan. He told Paul, and Paul sent him to tell the commander. The commander listened carefully to the young man and took steps to protect Paul.
The commander sent Paul away at night with a large group of soldiers and horsemen. They traveled all the way to Caesarea, where the governor named Felix lived. The commander wrote a letter explaining what had happened. When Felix read the letter, he said that he would hear Paul’s case when his accusers arrived, and he kept Paul in a palace under guard.
Read It Together
Acts 23:1
Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”
(WEB)
Point out that Paul looked straight at the council and spoke honestly. Ask the children how they think Paul felt standing in front of so many people, and remind them that telling the truth can take courage.
Acts 23:6
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
(WEB)
Show the children that Paul spoke up about what he believed, even when the room was filled with people who disagreed with him. Explain that Paul was honest about his hope in Jesus, and that his words started a debate in the room.
Acts 23:16-17
16 But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”
(WEB)
Point out how God used a young man to protect Paul. Remind the children that God can use anyone, even a young person, to help others and to do good things in the world.
Talk About It
- What do you think Paul was feeling when the people in the room started shouting at him?
- Why do you think God came to Paul at night and told him to cheer up?
- How can you be brave when your friends or classmates do not agree with you about God?
- What is one way God helped someone in this story, and how do you think he might help you today?
- Who is someone you can ask to pray with you when you feel scared or worried?
Activity Ideas
Paul’s Brave Heart Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Have each child draw a large heart and write “The Lord is with me” inside it. Then let them decorate the heart with colors and small drawings. Hang the hearts in the classroom or on the fridge at home as a reminder that God is always near.
Protect Paul Relay Game
You will need two bean bags or soft balls and a set of cones or chairs to mark a course. Divide the children into two teams. Each team passes a bean bag down a line, and the last child carries it around a cone and back to the start. Explain that the soldiers protected Paul by moving him safely, and talk about how friends can help each other when they are in trouble.
Take-Home Courage Card
You will need index cards, a pen, and a sticker or two. Write the words “God is with me” on each card, and let each child decorate it with a sticker. Ask them to take the card home and keep it in a pocket or on a bedside table. Encourage them to read it each night before they go to sleep and remember that God stays close to them.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that faithful witness often comes with opposition, confusion, and danger, yet God remains present and is the one who determines the path ahead. Paul’s testimony before the council, the Lord’s word to him in the night, and the protection given through his nephew all point to the Lord’s faithfulness in the middle of conflict. Adults can see here that God’s purposes are not thwarted by human plots.
When teaching children, avoid implying that God will always protect us from every physical harm or that doing the right thing will always keep us safe from danger. Paul faced real threats, and the story is about God’s presence and purpose, not a promise of an easy life. Focus on courage, honesty, and God’s nearness rather than guaranteed outcomes.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for being with us every day. When we feel scared or when people are unkind, help us to be brave and tell the truth about you. Thank you for taking care of Paul and for using a young man to help him. Help us to trust you in every hard moment. Amen.
