Single lesson
Philip and the Ethiopian Traveller
Acts 8:26–36; Acts 8:38–40
In this lesson, children follow Philip meeting an Ethiopian traveller on the road, listening to his question from Scripture, and seeing what happened next. The passage helps them notice choices, guidance, explanation, baptism and joy.
Before you teach
This part of Acts tells how Philip was directed first by an angel of the Lord and then by the Spirit. He met an Ethiopian official who had gone to Jerusalem to worship and was reading Isaiah on the journey home. Philip explained the Scripture and baptised him when they came to water.
Students will be able to put the account in order, name key choices made by Philip and the traveller, and explain that Philip taught about Jesus from Scripture and the traveller was baptised.
Welcome: Follow the road
5 minShow children a simple road line on paper or a board. Say that today’s story begins when Philip is told to go on the road toward Gaza, and Philip obeys straight away. Introduce the Ethiopian traveller as an important official returning from Jerusalem and reading the prophet Isaiah in his chariot.
Acts 8:26, Acts 8:27, Acts 8:28
Read and explain: Philip listens and speaks
8 minRead Acts 8:29-35 aloud. Explain that the Spirit told Philip to go near the chariot. Philip heard the man reading and asked if he understood it. The traveller invited Philip to sit with him. The reading included words about a sheep and a lamb, and Philip began from that Scripture and preached about Jesus.
Acts 8:29, Acts 8:30, Acts 8:31, Acts 8:32, Acts 8:33, Acts 8:34, Acts 8:35
Discuss: Choices and outcomes
6 minHelp the group trace the choices in order. Philip got up and went. Philip ran to the chariot and asked a careful question. The traveller admitted he needed help and invited Philip in. Later, when they came to water, the traveller asked about baptism. Discuss how these choices moved the account forward.
Acts 8:27, Acts 8:30, Acts 8:31, Acts 8:36
Make and respond: Road-to-water sequence cards
7 minChildren make six small cards showing the main sequence: go to the road, meet the traveller, read Isaiah, ask a question, hear about Jesus, go into the water. As they arrange the cards, ask them to retell the account using the words from the passage as closely as they can.
Acts 8:26, Acts 8:28, Acts 8:30, Acts 8:35, Acts 8:36, Acts 8:38
Closing: Rejoicing and good news
4 minFinish by reading the ending. Philip baptised the traveller. Afterward the eunuch went on his way rejoicing, and Philip kept preaching the good news in other cities. Invite children to say one thing they learned about God’s guidance, Scripture, or the response of the traveller.
Acts 8:38, Acts 8:39, Acts 8:40
Questions to explore
What did Philip do when he was told to go toward the road to Gaza?
Look for the action words in the passage and notice that Philip responded immediately to what he was told.
Acts 8:26, Acts 8:27
Why did the Ethiopian traveller ask Philip for help with the reading?
Listen for the traveller’s own words about understanding and explanation.
Acts 8:30, Acts 8:31, Acts 8:34
What happened when they came to water, and how did the traveller leave afterwards?
Find the traveller’s question about baptism, then read the outcome and the final description of his response.
Acts 8:36, Acts 8:38, Acts 8:39
Make, think or respond
Road-to-Water Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Draw or write six key moments from the passage on separate cards.
- Mix the cards up and have children work in pairs to place them in order.
- Read each matching verse aloud as the cards are arranged.
- Invite each pair to retell the account using their ordered cards.
This activity helps children sequence the account and connect each step with the choices and outcomes in Acts 8.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare six picture prompts in advance and let them place the cards in order before retelling the account with short phrases.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add verse numbers to each card and explain how Acts 8:35 connects the Isaiah reading with Philip preaching about Jesus.
An optional closing prayer
You might pray: “God, thank you for your word. Please help us listen carefully, ask honest questions, and learn about Jesus.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 8
26 Then an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”
27 He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
28 He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
30 Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”
35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.
36 As they went on the way, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”
38 He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
Something to make together
These activities connect with the passage. Choose one that suits your group and the time you have.
