This lesson teaches children that God keeps every promise He makes, even when things seem dangerous or uncertain. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the memory verse, and a short activity.
Big Idea
God is faithful. He keeps His promises, and He can be trusted to take care of His people wherever they go, even on a stormy sea or in a strange place.
Memory Verse
Acts 28:31
Preaching God’s Kingdom, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.
(WEB)
Teach the children to stand tall with arms stretched wide, like Paul speaking boldly. Then have them slowly lower their arms while saying the words together, and repeat it three times with bigger and bigger movements.
The Story: Acts 28 for Kids
Paul and his friends had been on a long, dangerous trip across the sea. Their ship was broken by a storm, and everyone had to swim or float to shore on a small island called Malta. The people who lived there were kind. It was raining and cold, so they built a big fire to warm everyone up.
Paul gathered some sticks and put them on the fire. Suddenly, a snake came out of the sticks and bit his hand! The islanders saw the snake hanging from Paul’s hand. They said to each other, “This man must be a bad person, and now he is going to die.” But Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire, and nothing bad happened to him at all.
The islanders watched Paul for a long time, waiting for him to fall down. He never did. So they changed their minds and said, “This man must be a god!” Paul did not agree with them. He was just a follower of the true God, who had kept him safe.
The chief man of the island, named Publius, welcomed Paul and his friends into his home for three days. Publius’s father was very sick with a fever. Paul prayed for him and placed his hands on him, and the sick man got well. Then other sick people on the island came to Paul, and he healed them too.
After three months, Paul sailed on to Rome. When the Christian brothers and sisters there heard he was coming, they came out to meet him on the road. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and felt brave again. In Rome, Paul was allowed to live in his own rented house, even though he was a prisoner. For two whole years, he welcomed everyone who came to visit and told them about Jesus.
Read It Together
Acts 28:2
The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
(WEB)
Point out how the islanders showed kindness to strangers who had just been shipwrecked. Ask the children how they can be kind to someone who is new or who needs help this week.
Acts 28:6
But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
(WEB)
Explain that the islanders wrongly thought Paul was a god. Help the children see that only God is worthy of worship, and that Paul pointed people to God, not to himself.
Acts 28:8-9
8 The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. 9 Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came, and were cured.
(WEB)
Show how God used Paul to heal many people on the island. Remind the children that God cares about sick people and can answer prayer in ways that bring hope and healing.
Talk About It
- What do you think Paul felt when the snake bit his hand, and what did he do?
- Why do you think the islanders were kind to Paul and his friends even though they had never met them before?
- How did God keep His promise to Paul that he would get to Rome, even after a storm and a snake?
- What is one way God has taken care of you or your family when things felt scary?
- Paul kept telling people about Jesus even while he was a prisoner. How can we keep sharing about Jesus when we feel nervous or tired?
Activity Ideas
Ship in the Storm Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a ship on rough blue waves with a bright sun or rainbow peeking through the clouds above. As they draw, talk about how God was with Paul in the storm and will be with us in our storms too.
Shake It Off Game
Gather the children in a circle and have them stand ready. Call out “snake,” and they shake their hands and arms hard like Paul shook off the viper. Then call out “God keeps His promises,” and they cheer and clap. Play a few rounds, mixing in the two calls, so they remember the story with their whole bodies.
Promise Keeper Card
You will need an index card, a pencil, and a small envelope for each child. Have each child write or draw one promise God has kept in their life, or a simple reminder like “God keeps His word.” Let them tuck the card into the envelope and take it home to place somewhere they will see it, such as by their bed or on the fridge.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s purposes continue even through shipwrecks, snakebites, prison, and long delays. Paul was not in control of the storm or the snake, yet he trusted that God would bring him to Rome as promised, and God did. Adults can take comfort that God’s faithfulness does not depend on our circumstances being easy.
Avoid suggesting to children that if they pray hard enough, they will never be hurt or that every sick person will be healed. The story shows God’s power, but it does not promise a particular outcome in every prayer. Focus on God’s faithfulness and His care, not on guaranteed results.
A Prayer to Close
Father, thank You for keeping Your promises, just as You kept Paul safe and brought him to Rome. Help us to trust You when things feel scary, and to be kind to others like the people of Malta were. Help us to tell others about Jesus, too. Amen.
