Paul Reaches Rome Preschool Sunday School Lesson (Free, Ages 3–6)
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: “God had said Paul would go to Rome.”
Paul was a prisoner on a big ship. The ship was sailing to Rome. One night in Jerusalem, Jesus had told him, “You must testify also at Rome.” To testify means to tell about Jesus. God had said Paul would go to Rome.
But a big storm came. For many days they could not see the sun or the stars. Then an angel came to Paul in the night. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar.” Caesar was the emperor in Rome.
The ship hit the sand and broke apart. Everyone swam, or held on to boards from the ship. There were two hundred seventy-six people. And every one of them came safely to land! The island was called Malta.
It was raining and cold. But the people of Malta were very kind. They made a fire for everyone. Crackle, crackle! Can you warm your hands by the fire?
Paul picked up a bundle of sticks. He laid them on the fire. Out came a snake, because of the heat. It held on to Paul’s hand!
Paul shook the snake off into the fire. Shake! Can you shake your hand like Paul? The people thought Paul would swell up or fall down.
The people watched and watched for a long time. But nothing bad happened to Paul. Then they said he was a god! But Paul was not a god. God had kept him safe. God had said Paul would go to Rome.
The chief man of the island was named Publius. He let them stay with him for three days. His father was sick with a fever. Paul went in to him. Paul prayed. He put his hands on him and healed him.
Then the other sick people on the island came. And they were healed too! When it was time to go, they gave them all they needed.
After three months, they sailed on in another ship. On the front of the ship was a carved figure called the Twin Brothers. Can you hold up two fingers, like two brothers?
They stopped at one town for three days. Then a south wind blew, and they sailed on. In another town they found friends of Jesus. They stayed with them for seven days.
At last they came near to Rome. The friends of Jesus in Rome heard that Paul was coming. They walked out on the road, a long way, to meet him. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. That means he felt brave and strong again. God had said Paul would go to Rome.
And so they came to Rome! Paul lived in a house of his own. A soldier stayed with him to guard him.
Many people came to see Paul. From morning until evening he told them about God’s Kingdom and about Jesus. Some believed, and some did not.
For two whole years, Paul stayed in his house. He welcomed everyone who came. He told them all about the Lord Jesus Christ, bravely and boldly. No one stopped him.
God had kept his word, all the way across the stormy sea. God had said Paul would go to Rome.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Paul felt when his friends came to meet him on the road?
- What do you think the people of Malta said when nothing happened to Paul?
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 did it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“He thanked God and took courage” — Acts 28:15 (he thanked God → fold your hands and look up; took courage → stand tall and show strong arms)
Dear God, thank you that you always keep your word. Thank you that you took care of Paul all the way to Rome. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God keeps His promises
Memory verse: “The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more.” — Psalm 121:8 · WEB
The Bible story
After a wild storm and a shipwreck, brave Paul finally reaches the big city of Rome to share God's love, and God kept every single promise!
Talk about it
- Where did Paul and the ship's crew land after the storm? — The island of Malta
- How many people were lost in the shipwreck? — Nobody at all
- What did the kind islanders build for the cold travelers? — A big warm fire
- What surprised everyone when Paul gathered sticks? — A snake bit his hand
- What did Paul do with the snake? — He shook it into the fire
- Whose sick father did Paul pray for? — Publius
Where is Jesus in this story?
Before He went back to heaven, Jesus told His friends they would be His witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Rome was the center of the greatest empire of that time, and Paul reached it, chains and all. The book of Acts ends with Paul teaching about Jesus there boldly and without anyone stopping him (Acts 28:31). Nothing can stop Jesus' good news.
What God wants to tell us
Even through storms, shipwrecks and a snake bite, God never once let go of Paul. God had promised Paul would reach Rome, and He made sure it happened. When life feels wobbly or scary, we can remember that God is always with us, always caring for us, and always keeping the promises He makes. We can trust Him with every single step of our journey.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for always keeping Your promises, even when things feel scary. Thank You for staying close to Paul through the storm. Please help me trust You every day and be brave to share Your love. Amen.
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