Free Bible lesson for kids · Paul’s Journeys
Safe on Malta
On the island of Malta (Melita) the people built a fire. A viper fastened on Paul’s hand, but he shook it off and felt no harm. Paul prayed for the sick, and they were healed.
- Bible passage
- Acts 28:1–10
- Big idea
- God protects us so we can keep serving Him.
- Memory verse
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psalm 91:11 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
They learned that the island was called Melita, which we call Malta (Acts 28:1). The people there were very kind. They built a fire because it was rainy and cold (Acts 28:2). Paul gathered sticks for the fire, and a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand (Acts 28:3). The islanders thought Paul must be a murderer who was being punished (Acts 28:4).
But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and “felt no harm” (Acts 28:5). The people waited for him to swell up or fall down dead. When nothing happened, they changed their minds and said he was a god (Acts 28:6). Publius, the chief man of the island, welcomed them for three days (Acts 28:7). His father was very sick, so Paul prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him. Other sick people came and were healed too (Acts 28:8–9).
Read it in the Bible: Acts 28:1–10 (KJV)
1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. 7In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. 8And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. 9So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: 10Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
Questions to ask
What did the islanders build for them?
A fire, because of the rain and cold.
What fastened on Paul’s hand?
A viper.
What happened to Paul?
He shook it off into the fire and felt no harm.
What this story teaches
- God protected Paul from harm so he could keep serving (Acts 28:5).
- God is more powerful than any danger we face (Acts 28:3–6).
- People can be wrong when they judge by what happens (Acts 28:4, 6).
- God used kind strangers to care for His people (Acts 28:2, 7).
- God hears prayer and has power to heal (Acts 28:8–9).
Jesus Has All Power
God kept Paul safe from the viper. Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth, so nothing is stronger than He is.
Matthew 28:18
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God for His protection. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God protects us so we can keep serving Him.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Psalm 91:11 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors or out · about 8 minutes
Shake Off the Snake
You need: A sock for each child, tucked loosely into a sleeve cuff
- Everyone tucks a sock “snake” loosely into their sleeve.
- On “Shake it off!”, shake your arm until the snake flies off. No hands!
- First one to shake it off throws it into the “fire” (a basket).
A viper bit Paul’s hand, but he shook it off into the fire and felt no harm. God protected him.
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 25 minutes
Welcome Crew
You need: Paper, markers, snacks
- The people of Malta showed “no little kindness” to strangers.
- Plan how your group will welcome visitors: a greeter, a seat-saver, a follow-up text.
- Make welcome cards or a snack basket for the next new person.
The islanders welcomed shipwrecked strangers, and God blessed them through Paul. Welcome the stranger.
Pray
Thank God for His protection.