Unit 35 · Session 2 · Older Kids · 5th–6th grade

Paul Was on Trial

Acts 22–23 · 5th–6th grade · 25–30 minutes

Big idea: We can risk everything to share the gospel with courage because we know that God loves us and will care for us.
Big picture question: Why should we praise Jesus?
Answer: We should praise Jesus for what He has done to provide our salvation and because He will one day make all things right.
Key passage · Isaiah 25:1: O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

Teaching rhythm Read, then Observe, then Explain, then Apply. Read aloud from your ESV Bible while the children follow. Give them a listening question first, then ask them to find answers in the verses.

1Opening3 min

2Trial5 min

3Encouragement5 min

4The Plot5 min

5Gospel & application5 min

6Key passage & prayer3 min

26 minutes planned · 4 minutes of flexibility

1. Opening: Trusting God When It Is Hard 3 min

Ask: “Have you ever been in trouble for doing the right thing? Has doing what God wants ever cost you something?”

Explain briefly: Paul had been traveling and sharing the gospel everywhere. He knew danger was waiting for him in Jerusalem, but he went anyway. Last week, we learned that Paul returned to Jerusalem and was arrested. Today, we will see what happened when Paul was put on trial for preaching about Jesus.

Introduce the big picture question and answer above. Remind kids: even when times are hard, we can praise Jesus knowing He will make all things right.

2. Paul Before the Sanhedrin 5 min

Read aloud Acts 23:1–6 ESV

¹And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” ²And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. ³Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” ⁴Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” ⁵And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” ⁶Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

Before reading

“Listen for what Paul says about his conscience, and what happens when he realizes the leaders are divided.”

Look back at the Bible

Look at verse 1. What does Paul say about how he has lived his life? He has lived before God in all good conscience up to this day.
What did the high priest order, and how did Paul respond? Ananias ordered Paul to be struck on the mouth. Paul rebuked him for violating the law while claiming to judge by it. (vv. 2–3)
What did Paul say that divided the council? He declared he was a Pharisee on trial for the hope of the resurrection of the dead. (v. 6)
Look at verse 5: How did Paul respond when he realized he had insulted the high priest? He admitted his mistake and quoted Scripture: “You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.”

Teaching pointPaul was bold, but he was also respectful. He admitted when he was wrong. Sharing the gospel with courage does not mean being harsh or arrogant. It means speaking truthfully while honoring those in authority.

Ask: “Is it ever hard to respect someone you disagree with? How can we share Jesus with courage and still be respectful?”

3. The Lord Encourages Paul 5 min

Context: The commander was afraid Paul would be hurt in all the arguing, so he ordered his soldiers to take Paul to safety. (Summarize Acts 23:7–10 briefly.)

Read aloud Acts 23:11 ESV

¹¹On the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also in Rome.”

Before reading

“Listen for what the Lord says to Paul and what He promises him.”

Look back at the Bible

When did the Lord come to Paul, and what did He say? The following night. The Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also in Rome.”
Look at verse 11: Why do you think Paul needed courage at this moment? He was in danger. People wanted to kill him. The Lord reminded him that God’s plan was bigger than the danger.
Where did the Lord say Paul would also testify? In Rome.

Teaching pointPaul’s circumstances looked bad. He was on trial. People wanted to kill him. But God was in control. He would use this very danger to get Paul to Rome, where he would preach the gospel to people who had never heard. Trusting God does not mean nothing bad will happen. It means believing that God is working all things for good, even when the situation looks dark.

4. The Plot Against Paul 5 min

Read aloud Acts 23:12–16 ESV

¹²When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. ¹³There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. ¹⁴They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. ¹⁵Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.” ¹⁶Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.

Before reading

“Listen for what the Jews planned, and how God protected Paul from their plot.”

Look back at the Bible

What did the Jews promise, and how many were involved? More than forty men bound themselves by an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. (vv. 12–13)
What was their plan to get to Paul? They asked the council to bring Paul down so they could kill him before he arrived. (v. 15)
Look at verse 16: Who discovered the plot, and what did he do? Paul’s nephew overheard the ambush and went to the barracks to warn Paul.

Teaching pointNothing is outside God’s plan. Even an assassination plot was not beyond His control. God allowed Paul’s nephew to overhear the conspiracy and warn Paul. The commander then secretly moved Paul to Caesarea at night. God can use any situation, even the scary ones, for His good purposes.

Ask: “When have you seen God work something bad out for good? How does that help you trust Him when things are hard?”

5. Gospel Connection and Application 5 min

Ask: “Before Paul was arrested, was he a good person who deserved God’s help?” No. Paul had hunted Christians and put them in prison before Jesus saved him.

We have all sinned and need God’s forgiveness.
Jesus died for sinners and rose again.
We cannot earn salvation by being brave or doing good things; we must trust in Jesus.
Because Jesus has saved us, we can share the gospel with courage, knowing that God loves us and will care for us.

Discuss: “What is one situation where you would need courage to share the gospel? What would help you be brave?”

Important distinctionPaul was brave, but his bravery did not save him. Jesus saved Paul. We do not share the gospel so that God will love us. We share the gospel because God already loves us and has saved us through Jesus.

Trust God Share Jesus He is in control

6. Key Passage and Closing Prayer 3 min

Read aloud Isaiah 25:1 ESV

¹O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

Isaiah 25:1: Invite children to find the verse in their Bibles. Read it aloud together. Ask: “What does this verse tell us about God?” Emphasize that God is faithful and worthy of praise, even when times are hard.

Prayer direction: Thank Jesus for saving us and for His promise to be with us always. Ask God to help the children trust Him when life is hard and to share the gospel with courage. Ask for boldness to tell others about Jesus, no matter what they face.

Leader’s Quick Reference

Central verse: Acts 23:11
Core readings: Acts 23:1–6; 23:11; 23:12–16
Key passage: Isaiah 25:1
Big picture Q&A: Why should we praise Jesus? We should praise Jesus for what He has done to provide our salvation and because He will one day make all things right.
One question to leave with them: “Paul was in danger and on trial. What did the Lord say to him that night, and how does that help us trust God when things are hard?”

Adapted as a shortened, Bible-first teaching plan from the supplied Lifeway Older Kids Leader Guide, Unit 35, Session 2.