Paul & Silas in Prison

This week we studied Paul and Silas. This is a really fun lesson! We also learn about Paul being a Roman citizen and how important that was in Paul's time.

Last week we talked about Paul going to Philippi in Macedonia and he was talking to Lydia. She made purple cloth and sold it. It was very hard to make, and it was worth a lot of money. Her whole household believed in Jesus and were baptized. Silas, Timothy and Luke were also with Paul. Lydia begged them to stay at her house after she was baptized.  Today our lesson is found in Acts 16:16-40.

Paul and Silas, Timothy & Luke (Luke states "US") were walking through the streets of Philippi in Macedonia on their way to pray. They saw a servant girl acting strange. The men that owned her made a lot of money from her because she did fortunetelling.  
The girl followed Paul shouting out that “These men are servants of the Most High God and they can tell us the way of salvation!” She did this for days and one day Paul was very irritated.

Paul turned around and told the spirit that was in her to come out. The evil spirit in her went out, but her owners didn’t like it because now she wouldn’t be making all that money for them.

They dragged Paul and Silas into the marketplace to the authorities. They told the judges that Paul and Silas had brought a lot of trouble to the city. They claimed that Paul and Silas were teaching customs that were against their laws.

The crowd of people were angry and the judges tore off Silas and Paul's coats and commanded that they be beaten. After the people beat Paul and Silas, they were thrown in prison.

The jailer was told to keep them securely locked. He was to make sure they couldn't escape, so the jailer put them in an inner prison and put their feet in stocks.

But at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God. The other prisoners were listening to them. Can you imagine being beaten, thrown in prison and then singing?

Suddenly, there was a great earthquake! The foundation of the prison shook and all the doors opened and the chains were free from everyone. The prison guard woke up and saw that the doors of the prison were opened up and he drew his sword and was going to kill himself.  (Acts 16:26)

But Paul shouted, "Don't do that!" because everything was Ok, everyone was still there. The guard called for a light and ran to Paul and Silas and asked: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They told him that first, he had to believe in Jesus.

 

Paul and Silas told the guard and his household about Jesus and within an hour that night, the household washed the stripes from the beating off of Paul and Silas and immediately the guard and ALL his family were baptized. They went back to the guard’s house and ate while the guard rejoiced because his whole family believed in God.

Click here to download the Roman Citizen posters.

The next day the judges came to the jailers house to tell Paul and Silas they were free to leave, but Paul said "We are Romans, and we were beaten in public and thrown in prison, and now the judges want us to leave secretly? Absolutely Not!" (Because it looked like Paul and Silas had done something wrong.)

Paul said to let them come and apologize in person. When the officers heard that they were Romans, they were scared. They went to Paul and Silas and pleaded with them and asked them to leave the city.

Paul and Silas left the prison and went back to Lydia’s house. They stayed there for many days, worshipping with the other Christians. Paul and Silas left Philippi, but Luke stayed longer. The wording in Acts changed from Luke saying 'we' to 'them'. We are not sure where Timothy went, but he is not mentioned being with Paul & Silas in the next chapter.

Updated file!

I added this Foldable later. I really wanted some type of Q&A worksheet, but fun, interesting, since I have mostly boys. So, this includes the color and black & white. You can also just use the inside if you prefer. The answers are on the last page. Click here to download an updated file.

I created these chains for Paul and Silas because the kids loved the Samson ones so much! It is such a basic project... and they really loved it! They are black and white only so you can print on any color paper. You can use for review or have the students put them together as you discuss the lesson. I added numbers to this set, because it is easier since they really wanted to make the chain in order. There is a space on the right side to tuck under and staple the rings together. Click here to print the chains.

The students are adding something each week to their IFA bags. You can see them here. This week we added handcuffs for Paul & Silas being in prison purchased here.

Click here to print the worksheet.

You can find all the Acts worksheets here.

Click here to see all the updated posters for Acts.

Passport: Philippi in Macedonia

I have used several different visuals over the years, and this tabletop prison is one of them. There is also a song for this lesson and different printables. Click here to see everything.

Bible verse: Acts 16:25

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Used by permission.

 You can download the free visual aids for Lydia here.

(Used with permission)

lesson

Click here to download the updated visuals.

Not all are shown.

Click here to download the pictures to color.