Single lesson
Paul's Message in Thessalonica and Berea
Acts 17:1–15
In this lesson, children follow Paul’s message in Thessalonica and Beroea. They will put the account in order, notice different responses, and learn what Paul proclaimed about Jesus from the Scriptures.
Before you teach
Acts 17:1–15 tells of Paul and Silas arriving in Thessalonica, where Paul reasoned in the synagogue from the Scriptures over three Sabbath days. Some were persuaded, while others stirred up trouble. The brothers then sent Paul and Silas to Beroea, where people received the word eagerly and examined the Scriptures daily.
Students will be able to sequence the events in Acts 17:1–15, describe two different responses to the message, and state what Paul proclaimed about Jesus.
Welcome: Two Cities, One Message
4 minShow the title and explain that this passage moves from Thessalonica to Beroea. Ask children to listen for three things: where Paul went, what he said about Jesus, and how people responded. Tell them they will build the sequence of events and compare the responses in each city.
Acts 17:1, Acts 17:3, Acts 17:10
Read and Explain: Paul Proclaimed Jesus as the Christ
8 minRead Acts 17:1–4 aloud. Explain that Paul went into the synagogue, as was his custom, and reasoned from the Scriptures for three Sabbath days. He explained that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and he said that Jesus is the Christ. Some people were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas.
Acts 17:2, Acts 17:3, Acts 17:4
Discuss: People Responded in Very Different Ways
6 minRead Acts 17:5–9. Help children notice that not everyone responded the same way. Some people gathered a crowd and set the city in an uproar. Jason and certain brothers were dragged before the rulers. The accusation included the claim that Paul and his companions were saying there is another king, Jesus. Jason and the rest were later let go after security was taken.
Acts 17:5, Acts 17:6, Acts 17:7, Acts 17:8, Acts 17:9
Make and Respond: Beroea Examined the Scriptures
7 minRead Acts 17:10–12. Point out that when Paul and Silas arrived in Beroea, they again went into the synagogue. These people received the word with readiness of mind and examined the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Many therefore believed. Emphasise that the passage calls this message the word and shows people carefully checking it.
Acts 17:10, Acts 17:11, Acts 17:12
Closing: The Word of God Kept Being Proclaimed
5 minRead Acts 17:13–15. Explain that people from Thessalonica came to Beroea and agitated the multitudes when they learned that the word of God was proclaimed there also. The brothers sent Paul away toward the sea, while Silas and Timothy stayed there for a time. Finish by asking what this passage teaches about God’s message and about people’s choices.
Acts 17:13, Acts 17:14, Acts 17:15
Questions to explore
What did Paul explain from the Scriptures about the Christ, and what did he say about Jesus?
Look for the words about suffering and rising again, and then the sentence Paul says about Jesus.
Acts 17:3
What is the message called in Beroea, and how did the people there respond to it?
Notice both the name the passage gives the message and the actions of receiving it and examining the Scriptures daily.
Acts 17:11, Acts 17:13
How were the Bereans different from the people who caused trouble in Thessalonica?
Compare the words about readiness of mind and examining the Scriptures with the words about gathering a crowd, making an uproar, and agitating the multitudes.
Acts 17:5, Acts 17:11, Acts 17:13
Make, think or respond
Story Sequence Cards: Thessalonica to Beroea
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or markers
- Bible
- Scissors
Try it together
- Write or draw 5 simple scenes from the passage: arriving at Thessalonica, Paul teaching from the Scriptures, the uproar at Jason’s house, the Bereans examining the Scriptures, and Paul being escorted away.
- Mix the cards up and let children work in pairs to place them in order.
- Ask each pair to explain what happened in each scene using words from the passage.
- Finish by asking which cards show what Paul proclaimed about Jesus and which cards show different responses to that message.
This activity helps children sequence Acts 17:1–15 and see both the message about Jesus and the different responses in Thessalonica and Beroea.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the five scene cards in advance with simple drawings and let them order the cards before retelling one sentence for each.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add a short caption to each card using words from the passage such as persuaded, uproar, examined, believed, and word of God.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “God, thank you for the Scriptures and for the message about Jesus. Please help us listen carefully, examine what we hear, and respond rightly to your word. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 17
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them; and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas: of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.
5 But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.
6 When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7 whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!”
8 The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things.
9 When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
12 Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes.
14 Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there.
15 But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.