Brave Believers Behind Bars
With Activities & Discussion Questions!
Paul, Silas, and the Jailer
Your financial support makes resources like this available! Give now!
Here’s a fun, alliteration-style retelling of the story of Paul and Silas in prison, using words starting with the letter “B” to represent "believer.” When children hear a “B” word they must make fists, cross their wrists, and make a hand motion of breaking away with fingers outstretched.
Focus: Even when things go wrong, we can trust God and praise Him. He can use our hard times to help others know Jesus!
Memory Verse
“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household” Acts 16:31.
Read Acts 16:16-40 from a child-friendly Bible.
(Retell the story for children to "act it out," emphasizing
and pausing slightly as you read the bolded words.)
“Brave believers Paul and Silas boldly brought God’s message of
blessings to a busy city. They banished an evil spirit from a girl.
But bad businessmen, bent on making bucks, were
angry with them.
So, the believers were beaten, bound, and boxed-in
behind bars.
But what did they do?
Did they bawl, blame, or break down?
No!
They blessed God, belted out ballads, and believed
boldly—even in the black of night!
Then, BOOM!
A blazing big earthquake busted the building.
Bars broke, bindings burst, and bolts banged loose.
The bewildered jailer was about to bring his own life to a bitter end,
but the believers boomed: “Be brave! We’re all here!”
Blown away by their bravery and behavior, the jailer begged,
“Brothers, what must I do to be saved?”
Their faces beamed, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your whole family!”
That very night, the jailer bathed their bruises, his whole family
believed, and they all were baptized to follow Jesus!
The next day, the believers were brought out—bold, blessed, and still
believing in our loving God!
Discussion Questions
1. What did Paul and Silas do while they were in prison?
2. How do you think they felt when the earthquake happened?
3. Why didn’t Paul and Silas run away when the prison doors opened?
4. What did the jailer do after he saw what happened?
5. What can we learn from Paul and Silas about trusting God?
Activity 1: Chains Fall Off!
Life Application
When life feels hard or unfair, remember Paul and Silas. Instead of being angry or scared, they praised God—and He used it to change someone’s life. We can praise God in the middle of any storm, too!
Supplies: Paper strips (cut from construction paper), Tape or staplers, Markers or crayons.
Part 1: Give each child 4–6 strips of paper.
On each strip, have them write or draw something that keeps people “chained”—like fear, lies, sadness, or sin.
On a final strip, write the memory verse:
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved..."
Tape or staple all the strips together to form one chain (like prison chains).
Part 2: Have the kids sit in a circle holding the chain.
Say: “Paul and Silas praised God in prison—and when the earthquake came, their chains fell off! Let’s remember that God’s power can break our chains too! At the count of 3 let’s break our chains at the same time and shout, ‘God sets us free!’”
Activity 2: Coloring Sheets: Click
here to get Praise Party in Prison
The lesson and activities here are provided by SundaySchoolNetwork.com
Help keep the site going, support our site!
Subscribe to our Newsletter - Learn More