This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Acts 23:12-22, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
There was a man named Paul who loved Jesus very much. He was imprisoned because some people didn’t like that Paul was telling others about Jesus. They made a plan to hurt him.
Over 40 people agreed to not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul! They went to some important leaders and asked them to bring Paul to them so they could talk to him more. But really, they wanted to hurt him.
One day, Paul’s nephew found out about the plan and ran to tell Paul. He said, “Uncle Paul, some people want to hurt you! They made a plan to not eat or drink anything until they have killed you! We have to do something!”
Paul was very worried and knew he needed to do something. He asked one of the soldiers in charge to take his nephew to a very important person who could help him. He said, “Please take my nephew to the tribune. He has important news to tell him.”
When they got to the tribune, Paul’s nephew told him about the plan to hurt Paul. He said, “Sir, my uncle Paul asked me to tell you something. Some bad people are planning to hurt him. They want you to bring him to the leaders so they can talk to him. But really, they want to hurt him. Over 40 people have agreed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. Please help my uncle!”
The tribune was very concerned and asked lots of questions to make sure it was true. He didn’t want Paul to get hurt! So he said, “Thank you for telling me this important news. I need to make sure it’s true. Please don’t tell anyone else about this. We need to keep it a secret for now.”
Biblical Lessons
- God always protects His people, even in difficult situations.
- We should always be on the lookout for people who might be in danger or need our help. The soldier who helped Paul’s nephew didn’t have to do that, but he saw that someone needed help and he stepped up to do the right thing.
- It’s important to be truthful and honest, even if it might be difficult or scary. Paul’s nephew could have kept quiet about the plan to hurt Paul, but he chose to tell the truth and that helped to keep Paul safe.
Related Stories
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison
Must-Read Christian Books
The Pursuit of God
A heartfelt call to pursue God Himself above all else, with a strong emphasis on holiness and devotion.
View on Amazon
Institutes of the Christian Religion
A classic work of Reformed theology in an accessible form, laying out Christian doctrine with deep biblical roots.
View on Amazon
A Call to Spiritual Reformation
Walks through Paul's prayers to teach believers how to pray biblically and God-centeredly.
View on Amazon
Finally Alive
A biblical exploration of the new birth and why regeneration is at the heart of the Christian life.
View on Amazon
The Gospel for Real Life
Shows how the finished work of Christ applies to everyday struggles and assurance.
View on Amazon
Let the Nations Be Glad!
Missions-focused theology showing that worship is the goal of evangelism to the nations.
View on Amazon
According to Plan
An introduction to biblical theology that shows how all Scripture points to Christ.
View on Amazon
The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination
Explains and defends the doctrines of grace and God's sovereign election from Scripture.
View on Amazon
The Mortification of Sin
A Puritan classic urging believers to put sin to death by the power of the Spirit.
View on Amazon
Morning and Evening
Devotional readings for each day that point believers to Christ and His promises.
View on Amazon
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Summarizes key doctrines of Scripture in concise questions and answers.
View on Amazon
Biblical Preaching
Introduces the "big idea" approach to expository sermons, rooted in the biblical text.
View on Amazon
Christ-Centered Worship
Traces historic worship patterns and shows how to shape Christ-focused services today.
View on Amazon
The Universe Next Door
Surveys competing worldviews and contrasts them with the Christian view of reality.
View on Amazon
Reformed Dogmatics (Single Volume Abridgement)
A rich, Reformed systematic theology that is deeply biblical and Christ-centered.
View on Amazon
The Whole Christ
Deals with legalism, antinomianism, and the grace of God in union with Christ.
View on Amazon
The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment
Teaches believers how to distinguish truth from error using Scripture.
View on Amazon
Counterfeit Gods
Exposes modern idols of the heart and points to Christ as our true treasure.
View on Amazon