Free Bible lesson for kids · Paul’s Journeys
Lydia Believes
By a river outside Philippi, Paul spoke to women gathered for prayer. Lydia, a seller of purple, listened, and the Lord opened her heart. She was baptized and welcomed Paul into her home.
- Bible passage
- Acts 16:11–15
- Big idea
- God opens hearts to hear the gospel.
- Memory verse
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Acts 16:14 (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
Paul and his friends sailed from Troas and came to Philippi, an important city in Macedonia (Acts 16:11–12). On the sabbath day they went outside the city to a river, where people met to pray (Acts 16:13). They sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there (Acts 16:13). One of them was Lydia, a seller of purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God (Acts 16:14).
As Lydia listened, the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul said (Acts 16:14). Then she and her household were baptized (Acts 16:15). She said, “If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there” (Acts 16:15). She kept asking until they agreed (Acts 16:15). Later, Paul and Silas came back to Lydia’s house to comfort the believers (Acts 16:40).
Read it in the Bible: Acts 16:11–15 (KJV)
11Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 14And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
Questions to ask
Where did Paul find the women praying?
By a river side outside Philippi.
What did Lydia sell?
Purple cloth.
What did the Lord do for Lydia?
He opened her heart.
What this story teaches
- The Lord opens hearts to hear and believe (Acts 16:14).
- God’s people gather to pray, even outdoors by a river (Acts 16:13).
- Believers whose hearts God opens follow Him in baptism (Acts 16:14–15).
- A new believer loves to serve and welcome God’s people (Acts 16:15).
- God brings the gospel to people in new places (Acts 16:12–13).
Jesus Opens Our Understanding
The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to hear the good news. Jesus also opened His disciples’ minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
Luke 24:45
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to open the hearts of our friends. |
|---|---|
| 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 opens hearts to hear the gospel.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Acts 16:14 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 · about 10 minutes
Purple Hunt
You need: Purple objects hidden around the room
- Hide purple things around the room: ribbon, paper, a crayon, a sock.
- Kids hunt for them in teams.
- Count them up and tell how Lydia sold purple cloth.
Lydia listened to Paul, and “the Lord opened her heart.” Then she opened her home.
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 30 minutes
Kingdom Shark Tank
You need: Paper, markers
- Lydia was a businesswoman. Teams invent a small business idea that also helps people in your town.
- They pitch it in two minutes to “investors” (the leaders).
- Talk: how can your future work serve God?
Lydia used her home and her business for God. Everything we have can be used for His kingdom.
Pray
Ask God to open the hearts of our friends.