Paul Arrested in Jerusalem Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Paul kept on telling about Jesus.”
Paul was on his way to Jerusalem. He stopped in the town of Caesarea. He stayed in the house of Philip, a friend of Jesus. Philip had four daughters, and they spoke messages from God.
One day a prophet named Agabus came. He took Paul’s belt. He tied up his own feet and hands with it. He said the Holy Spirit had given him a message. “So the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt.” To bind means to tie up.
Paul’s friends cried. They begged him not to go. But Paul said, “I am ready to be bound for the name of the Lord Jesus.” So his friends said, “The Lord’s will be done.” That means: let God’s plan happen.
In Jerusalem, the friends of Jesus were glad to see Paul. He told them what God had done in faraway lands. He told them one thing after another. And they praised God. Paul kept on telling about Jesus.
One day Paul was in the temple, God’s house. Some people saw him there. They shouted, “Men of Israel, help!” The whole city came running. They grabbed Paul and pulled him out of the temple. They were hitting him. They wanted him to die.
The commander of the soldiers heard the noise. He ran down with his soldiers. When the crowd saw the soldiers, they stopped hitting Paul. The commander put Paul in two chains. Can you count the chains? One, two. Clink, clank!
The commander asked, “Who is this man? What has he done?” But some people shouted one thing, and some shouted another. It was too noisy to find out!
So the soldiers took Paul to their fort. The crowd was pushing so hard! The soldiers had to carry Paul up the stairs. Paul asked the commander, “May I speak to you?” The commander was surprised. “Do you know Greek?” he asked.
Paul told him he came from the city of Tarsus. He asked to speak to the people. And the commander said yes.
Paul stood on the stairs. He waved his hand. Can you wave your hand like Paul? Everyone got very quiet. Shhh. Then Paul spoke to them in their own language. Now they were even more quiet. Paul kept on telling about Jesus.
Paul said that long ago he had been against the friends of Jesus. He had put them in prison. But then something happened. One day, at noon, a great light shone around him on the road. Can you cover your eyes, as if a bright light shines?
A voice said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” That means: why are you hurting me and my friends? Paul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” He said, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.”
The light was so bright that Paul could not see. His friends led him by the hand. Then a man named Ananias came to him. He said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight!” And Paul could see again.
Paul told them what Jesus said to him later. “Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.” The Gentiles are people from every nation. Paul kept on telling about Jesus.
But when the crowd heard that, they shouted again. They threw dust in the air. So the commander took Paul inside.
The soldiers tied Paul up. They wanted to whip him, to make him tell the truth. But Paul told them he was a Roman. Romans had special rights. No one could whip a Roman before a fair trial. The commander said he had paid a lot of money to become a Roman. Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.” So the soldiers stepped away from him.
The next day, the commander took off Paul’s chains. God was watching over Paul every step of the way. Paul kept on telling about Jesus.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Paul felt when he stood on the stairs in front of the crowd?
- Who would you like to tell your story about Jesus to?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“The Lord’s will be done” — Acts 21:14 (The Lord’s → point up high; will be done → fold your hands and bow your head)
Dear Jesus, thank you that Paul could tell everyone about you, even in chains. Thank you that you are with your friends. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Be brave with God
Memory verse: “Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid. Don't be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9 · WEB
The Bible story
Paul traveled bravely to Jerusalem, and when an angry crowd grabbed him at the temple, God gave him the courage to share the story of Jesus.
Talk about it
- Which big city was Paul traveling to? — Jerusalem
- What did Paul say when his friends begged him not to go? — I am ready to go
- What did Paul tell his friends in Jerusalem? — What God did among Gentiles
- Where did Paul go a few days later? — To the temple
- What happened when some people did not understand Paul? — An angry crowd grabbed him
- Who came running to keep Paul safe? — Roman soldiers
Where is Jesus in this story?
Before Paul reached Jerusalem, the prophet Agabus warned that Paul would be tied up and handed over to the Gentiles (Acts 21:11). Jesus had said almost the same words about Himself (Luke 18:32). The crowd shouted “Away with him!” at Paul (Acts 21:36), just as a crowd had shouted against Jesus (Luke 23:18). Paul was walking the road his Savior had walked first.
What God wants to tell us
Paul teaches us that we can be brave and peaceful even when things feel scary, because God is always with us. Paul did not shout back or panic when the crowd grabbed him. Instead, he trusted God and used the moment to share about Jesus. When we feel worried, we can remember that God holds us close and helps us do the right thing. You are never alone, because God's loving care goes everywhere you go.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank You for always being with me, even when things feel scary. Please make me brave like Paul, so I can share how much You love me. Help me to be kind and peaceful, and to trust You every day. I love You. Amen.
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