Paul's Adventures·Acts

Paul's First Journey for Kids: Bible Story Explained Simply

Ages 7+·5 min read·New Testament·By Faithful Kids Team·Updated April 16, 2026

adventureperseverancesharing faithcourage

Paul's First Journey

Read the lesson transcript

PAUL'S ADVENTURES — EPISODE 1: PAUL'S FIRST JOURNEY Based on Acts 13-14 Series: Paul's Adventures | Episode 1 of 10 Target audience: Kids ages 7-15

Alright — it's adventure time. And I mean REAL adventure. Dangerous roads, angry mobs, false gods, and a man who just will not quit. Let's talk about Paul's very first missionary journey.

It starts in Antioch. The church is praying and fasting when the Holy Spirit speaks: "Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work I've called them to." The church lays hands on them and sends them out. No GPS. No bodyguards. Just faith and a mission — go tell the world about me.

First stop — the island of Cyprus. They're preaching in synagogues when they run into trouble. A sorcerer named Bar-Jesus tries to turn the governor AWAY from the faith — whispering lies, twisting the truth, doing everything he can to block the message.

Paul looks him straight in the eye and says, "You son of the devil — will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?" And just like that — the sorcerer goes blind. The governor sees it happen, and he believes. Don't mess with my messengers.

They sail to Asia Minor — modern-day Turkey — preaching from town to town. In Lystra, Paul sees a man lame since birth, looks at him, and says, "Stand up on your feet!" The man JUMPS up and starts walking.

The crowd goes absolutely wild. But here's the problem — they think Paul and Barnabas are GODS. They start calling Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes." A priest even brings bulls and wreaths to sacrifice to them!

Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes and rush into the crowd shouting, "What are you doing?! We are just humans like you! We're here to tell you about the LIVING God — the one who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them!"

They barely stop the crowd from sacrificing to them. Barely.

But then — the mood shifts. Enemies from other cities show up and turn the people against Paul. The same crowd that wanted to worship him? They pick up stones and HURL them at him. They drag his body outside the city and leave him for dead.

The disciples gather around him, heartbroken. And then — Paul gets up. He stands to his feet, walks back INTO the city, and the very next day, he travels to the next town to keep preaching.

That is what unstoppable faith looks like. Following me is an adventure — exciting, dangerous, and absolutely worth it. Paul knew it. Barnabas knew it. And I want YOU to know it too.

The journey's just beginning.

This retelling is one of our 200 Bible stories for kids — the whole Bible, free, from Genesis to Revelation.

Series: Paul's Adventures (Episode 01 of 10) | Scripture: Acts | Ages 7+

Paul's First Journey is a Bible story from Acts in the New Testament. This retelling is designed for kids ages 5 and up, using simple language they can understand and lessons they will remember.

What Is the Story of Paul's First Journey for Kids?

PAUL'S ADVENTURES — EPISODE 1: PAUL'S FIRST JOURNEY Based on Acts 13-14 Series: Paul's Adventures | Episode 1 of 10 Target audience: Kids ages 7-15

Alright — it's adventure time. And I mean REAL adventure. Dangerous roads, angry mobs, false gods, and a man who just will not quit. Let's talk about Paul's very first missionary journey.

This story comes from Acts and is part of the New Testament.

What Does the Story of Paul's First Journey Teach Children?

The story of Paul's First Journey teaches children important lessons about adventure, perseverance, sharing faith, courage:

Worshiping God in hard times shows real faith
God can work miracles even in the darkest situations
Sharing your faith can change other people's lives forever

Key Bible Verse

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel." — Romans 1:16

Parent's Guide: Why This Story Matters

Paul's adventures read like an action movie: shipwrecks, prison breaks, riots, snakebites. Kids love this because it is exciting. But underneath the adventure is a lesson about perseverance. Paul never gave up, no matter what happened. When your child faces setbacks, frustration, or the temptation to quit something hard, Paul's story is the one to revisit. God does not promise an easy road, but He promises to be on the road with you.

Illustration from Paul's First Journey for Kids: Bible Story Explained Simply

Quiz: Test What Your Child Learned

After watching the video, see if your child can answer these questions:

What happened to the sorcerer Bar-Jesus when he tried to stop the governor from believing?

When Bar-Jesus tried to turn the governor away from the faith, Paul called him out and the sorcerer was struck blind — and the governor believed.

When Paul healed the lame man in Lystra, what did the crowd try to do?

The crowd was so amazed by the healing that they thought Paul and Barnabas were the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes, and they tried to offer sacrifices to them.

After Paul was stoned and left for dead outside Lystra, what did he do?

Paul got back up, walked right back into the city, and traveled to the next town the very next day to keep preaching — that is unstoppable faith in action.

Paul's First Journey for Kids: Bible Story Explained Simply - Key Moment Illustration

Discussion Questions for Families

Use these questions at the dinner table or during bedtime:

What was your favorite part of the story of Paul's First Journey?
What do you think God was teaching us through this story?
How can we be more like Paul's in our own lives?
If you were in this story, what would you have done differently?
What does this story teach us about trusting God?

More Episodes in the Paul's Adventures Series

This story is episode 01 of 10 in the Paul's Adventures series:

300+ Bible Stories for Kids on Faithful Kids

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the story of Paul's First Journey about for kids?

Paul's First Journey is a story from Acts. PAUL'S ADVENTURES — EPISODE 1: PAUL'S FIRST JOURNEY Based on Acts 13-14 Series: Paul's Adventures | Episode 1 of 10 Target audience: Kids ages 7-15

What age is the story of Paul's First Journey appropriate for?

This retelling of Paul's First Journey is designed for children Ages 7+. The language is simple and age-appropriate, and the video is just a few minutes long, perfect for young attention spans.

Where is Paul's First Journey found in the Bible?

Paul's First Journey is found in Acts in the New Testament. It is part of the Paul's Adventures series on Faithful Kids.

Is there a video of Paul's First Journey for kids?

Yes. Faithful Kids has a short video retelling of Paul's First Journey designed for children, with narration, visuals, and a comprehension quiz. Watch it here.

How can I use Paul's First Journey for Sunday School or homeschool?

Play the short Faithful Kids video as an introduction, then use the discussion questions above for group conversation. The built-in quiz checks comprehension. Many Sunday school teachers and homeschool parents use Faithful Kids as weekly curriculum.

What does Paul's First Journey teach kids?

The story of Paul's First Journey teaches children about adventure, perseverance, sharing faith, courage. Worshiping God in hard times shows real faith.

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