Paul's Journey to Rome: Trial

8/19/2024

Copy of Daniel and the Lion's Den by Jennifer Tolbert

Paul's Trial Before Felix by Jennifer Tolbert

Paul's Trial before Festus and Agrippa by Jennifer Tolbert

For as much good as Paul did in spreading the gospel, he also faced much persecution for his message. The Jewish leaders and the political leaders of the time began to try to stomp out Christianity with threats and persecution. As a leader of the early church, Paul and the other apostles became their primary targets.

Key Themes:
1. Paul showed courage in preaching about Jesus in spite of persecution.
2. Paul obeyed and followed God in everything he did.
3. God wants every person on earth to have the opportunity to hear the Good News, believe it, repent (turn away) from sin, confess and be baptized, so they can be saved!

Memory Verse

22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
I Corinthians 9:22

Songs

Books of the New Testament
Apostles Song
Every Move I Make
Jumping Up and Down
Roll The Gospel Chariot
Said I Wasn't
Stand Up and Shout It
This Little Light of Mine

Story

Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time

Open Class in Prayer

Introducing the Story Ideas
1. Nose Disease Game from MissionBibleClass.org
SAY: “Let’s play a game. Let’s pretend that everyone who has the letters “A, E, I, O, or U” in their name has a disease called NOSE DISEASE. This pretended disease will make you grow an extra nose tonight while sleeping. That would be terrible!!! No one wants to grow an extra nose, do they?
Now, let’s pretend I know some special words to make Nose Disease disappear. Would you want me to tell you the special words? Of course, you would! You would feel very sad if I knew the special words but refused to tell you. Who wants to hear the pretend words?” (You could whisper something like “nose, nose, blow away” in each child’s ear).
Did you know that Paul had something very special to tell people? Something that would save them from something even worse than Nose Disease? Paul wanted to tell everyone about Jesus because Jesus could save everyone from their sins. Today, we will learn how Paul told people about Jesus even when he was in a courtroom.

2. What is true?
Make a list of simple statements that are true, such as a cat has fur, or 2+2=4. Ask the kids how they KNOW that is true. Ask them to prove it. Make a list of things we KNOW are true about Jesus. SAY: Paul was falsely accused, and on trial. He appeared before high rulers. He told the rulers what he knew to be true about Jesus.

Story: Paul was a missionary who traveled to many places. However, the High Priest and other Jewish leaders did not like Paul and considered him a troublemaker. They wanted to stop Paul from spreading the gospel so much, that they told lies about him to get him in trouble. However, Paul was also a Roman citizen and had the right to appear before a Roman official in the court of law. Paul used this right to save his life from the Jews, and also testified about his faith to some of the highest rulers in the Roman empire.

READ the stories of Paul's arrest, and appearing before Felix, Festus and Agrippa. For younger children or depending on time, you might summarize one or two of them and just read one.
EMPHASIZE that:

Paul was willing to go into the world to teach the gospel.
A missionary is someone who travels to teach the gospel in different parts of the world.
God wants everyone to hear the Good News!