How did Saul escape Damascus?

The disciples let him down by the wall in a basket.

Free Bible lesson for kids · The Gospel Spreads

Over the Wall in a Basket

Saul began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. When enemies watched the gates to kill him, the disciples let him down over the wall in a basket by night. Barnabas later brought him to the apostles.

Teach this lesson: film, sheets and guide Print the coloring page

Bible passage: Acts 9:19–31
Big idea: God uses friends to protect and help us.
Memory verse: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (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

After Saul met Jesus, he stayed with the disciples in Damascus (Acts 9:19). Right away he preached in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). People were amazed, because this man had tried to destroy Jesus’ followers (Acts 9:21). After many days, some men planned to kill Saul, and they watched the city gates day and night (Acts 9:23–24).

But Saul learned of their plan, so the disciples took him by night “and let him down by the wall in a basket” (Acts 9:24–25). In Jerusalem the disciples were afraid of Saul and did not believe he was truly a disciple (Acts 9:26). But Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told how Saul had seen the Lord and preached boldly (Acts 9:27). When enemies tried to kill Saul again, the brothers sent him away to Tarsus (Acts 9:29–30).

Read it in the Bible: Acts 9:19–31 (KJV)

¹⁹And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. ²⁰And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. ²¹But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? ²²But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. ²³And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: ²⁴But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. ²⁵Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. ²⁶And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. ²⁷But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. ²⁸And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. ²⁹And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. ³⁰Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. ³¹Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Questions to ask

What did Saul preach in the synagogues?
That Jesus is the Son of God.
How did Saul escape Damascus?
The disciples let him down by the wall in a basket.
Who brought Saul to the apostles?
Barnabas.

What this story teaches

Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ (Acts 9:20, 22).
God can turn an enemy of the church into a preacher (Acts 9:21).
God uses friends to protect His people from danger (Acts 9:25, 30).
A good friend speaks up for others, as Barnabas did (Acts 9:27).
God gives His church rest, comfort and growth (Acts 9:31).

Jesus Is Our Best Friend

Saul’s friends helped him escape danger. Jesus is the greatest friend of all; He laid down His life for His friends.

John 15:13

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 min	Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God for friends who help us.
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 uses friends to protect and help us.” What does that mean for us?
5 min	Memory verse. Say Romans 1:16 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

Down in a Basket

You need: A small basket with a rope tied to it, a stuffed animal for Saul, a table as the wall

Put “Saul” in the basket on top of the table.
Teams take turns lowering the basket over the edge with the rope, gently, until it touches the floor.
If Saul falls out, try again.

The disciples helped Saul escape by letting him down over the wall in a basket. God used friends to keep him safe.

For youth group · activity · indoors · about 20 minutes

Barnabas Hot Seat

You need: A chair

One person sits in the “hot seat”.
Everyone else takes turns saying one true, specific, encouraging thing about them.
Rotate until everyone has had a turn.

Barnabas, the “son of consolation”, stood up for Saul when others were afraid of him. Be a Barnabas.

Pray

Thank God for friends who help us.