Paul's Missionary Journeys: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Acts 16:22-34
An interactive 45-minute lesson on Acts 16:22-34 for ages 6-10. Children hear how Paul and Silas prayed and sang in prison, how the earthquake opened the doors, and how the jailer and his household believed in Jesus. They play a listening game, make a chain of praise, and learn Acts 16:31.
Memory verse
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell what happened to Paul and Silas in the prison and to the jailer in order.
- Explain that Paul and Silas prayed and sang to God even in a hard place.
- Say Acts 16:31 and tell what it means to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: What Do You Do When Things Go Wrong? (5 min)
Greet each child. Ask: "Has anything ever gone wrong for you, like a rainy day when you planned to play outside?" Let 3 or 4 children answer.
Say: "Today we meet two men who had a terrible day. They were in prison. Listen to what they chose to do."
Teach this action to repeat later: tap your knees for walking, clap for singing, shake hands for earthquake. Practice once.
Say: "Now let's hear what the Bible says happened."
Bible Story: Prison, Earthquake and a Question (8 min)
Background: Paul and Silas were in the city of Philippi telling people about Jesus.
Say: "Listen to Acts 16, and do the actions with me." Dim the lights or use a flashlight. Read or retell in order:
1. Verses 22-24: The crowd rose up against Paul and Silas. They were beaten with many stripes and thrown into prison. The jailer was told to keep them safely, so he put them in the inner prison with their feet fast in stocks.
2. Verse 25: At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. (Clap.) The other prisoners heard them.
3. Verse 26: Suddenly there was a great earthquake. (Shake hands.) All the doors opened and everyone's bands were loosed.
4. Verses 27-28: The jailer woke up. He thought the prisoners had escaped. Paul called out loudly, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here."
5. Verses 29-30: The jailer came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas. He asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
6. Verses 31-34: They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." They told God's word to everyone in his house. The jailer washed their stripes and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. He set food before them and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Say: "Now let's think about what this story teaches us."
Teaching: Praise and Good News (7 min)
Say: "Paul and Silas were hurt and locked up, yet at midnight they prayed and sang to God."
Say: "The Bible does not say they felt happy. It says they prayed and sang, and other prisoners were listening."
Ask: "Who was listening?" (The other prisoners.) "Our choices can be heard and seen by people around us."
Say: "The jailer asked the most important question: What must I do to be saved?"
Say: "The answer was simple: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ."
Explain: Believing in Jesus means trusting Him as the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again. He saves us because of what He did, not because we are good enough.
Point out: God's good news was for the jailer and for everyone in his house. The whole household heard it and rejoiced.
Say: "God was with Paul and Silas in the dark, and He offers salvation to everyone who believes in Jesus."
Say: "Now let's play a listening game."
Game: Listen and Do (8 min)
Setup: Write five cue words on the board with an action each. Children stay seated or stand in place. No running.
Cues and actions:
- Prison: cross arms.
- Sing: sway and pretend to sing.
- Earthquake: shake hands in the air.
- Doors open: spread arms wide.
- Believe: point up.
Steps:
1. Explain the cues and practice each once (1 min).
2. Read the short story summary slowly. Pause on a cue word and let the children act it out (3 min).
3. Read it again faster. Choose a child to be the "story leader" and call out cue words from the board (2 min).
4. Ask: "Which word shows what the jailer needed to do to be saved?" (Believe.)
5. Practice the memory verse with the "Believe" action: say it together three times, getting softer, then louder (2 min).
Time: 8 min. Let any child join in a quieter way, such as only watching or doing small hand movements.
Craft: Chain of Praise (8 min)
Safety: Teacher pre-cuts paper strips before class. Children use tape only, no scissors. Supervise tape and markers.
Setup: Give each child 4 paper strips, crayons and tape.
Steps:
1. On the first strip write or draw one thing you can thank God for (2 min).
2. On the second strip write or draw one hard thing you can pray about.
3. On the third strip write "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Younger children can draw a cross or copy the words.
4. On the fourth strip write your name.
5. Loop each strip and tape it into a paper chain. Link the strips in order (3 min).
Say: "Paul and Silas had real chains, but God was with them. Take this chain home and remember to praise Him, even when things are hard."
Time: 8 min. Help children who need support with writing by letting them draw.
Talk Time (5 min)
Ask the children these questions one at a time. Accept short answers.
1. What did Paul and Silas do at midnight? (They prayed and sang praises to God.)
2. What happened when the earthquake came? (The doors opened and everyone's bands were loosed.)
3. What did the jailer ask? (What must I do to be saved?)
4. What was the answer? (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.)
5. Who else heard the good news and believed? (The jailer's whole household.)
6. What is one way you can praise God when something is hard? (Pray, sing, thank Him, talk to a friend.)
If time is short, ask questions 2, 4 and 6.
Closing and Prayer (4 min)
Say: "Let's say our verse together one more time." Say Acts 16:31 with the action for "Believe."
Say: "Paul and Silas praised God at midnight. The jailer trusted Jesus, and his whole family rejoiced."
Prayer: Invite children to repeat each line.
- "Thank You, God, that You are with us when things are hard."
- "Help us to pray and sing to You."
- "Thank You for Jesus, who saves everyone who believes."
- "Help our families know You and rejoice. Amen."
Remind children to take their chain of praise home and tell someone the story.
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- Large paper or whiteboard with memory verse written on it
- Colored paper strips (about 4 per child)
- Crayons or markers
- Tape
- Safety scissors (for the teacher to pre-cut strips)
- Flashlight
Teacher notes
- Stick to the text: the Bible does not say how Paul and Silas felt or give the jailer's name, so avoid adding details. Keep any background short and label it.
- Safety: pre-cut paper strips, use tape instead of glue, and supervise markers. Games are seated or in place, with no running.
- Adaptation: use picture cues beside each action word, offer a quieter option (watching or small hand movements), and pair younger children with older buddies for the craft.
- Be sensitive: some children may have family members in prison or have had scary experiences. Focus on God's care, and let children share only if they wish.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Acts 16:22-34. Paul and Silas were beaten and put in prison, yet at midnight they prayed and sang to God. An earthquake opened the doors. The jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" and was told to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He and his whole household believed and rejoiced.
- What did Paul and Silas do when they were in prison?
- What does it mean to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?
- When is a hard time that we can pray or sing to God together?
Read Acts 16:25-34 together. Then share one thing each person can thank God for, and one thing to pray about. Add each to your child's paper chain or make a new link for each prayer.
Each day this week, say Acts 16:31 aloud as a family, and sing or say one prayer of thanks to God, especially when something feels hard.
Make this lesson your own: change the age, length or language · Printables to go with this lesson · Printables for this story
More teaching resources
More free lessons
See all free lessons