Paul’s Testimony

Intro

Rollercoasters

Have you ever been on a roller coaster? By a show of hands, who loves roller coasters? Who loathes them? Have you ever agreed to something and halfway through thought, What have I done?

That’s exactly what happened to one young lady during her first roller-coaster ride at Six Flags in Gurnee, Illinois. Her boyfriend had convinced her to ride the tallest, fastest ride in the park. At first she thought, How bad could it be? But as the train climbed the first hill, she realized her mistake. Hands clenched, eyes shut, half-serious prayers whispered—then the first drop at eighty MPH hit. She threw up . . . everywhere. Chaos erupted. The poor girl never lived it down.

At Cedar Point, Ohio, riders of the new Siren’s Curse roller coaster had a different kind of regret. After opening in 2025, the ride broke down at the top, forcing riders to walk down 160 feet of stairs. That would be terrifying for anyone afraid of heights. Sometimes life feels like that—exciting at first, but then scary, overwhelming, and even miserable. Serving God can feel the same. We step out in faith, expecting adventure, but then life drops us into trials.

Paul’s story in Acts shows the difference. God told Paul he would testify before kings and in Rome. Sounds amazing, right? But the ride there included arrests, trials, and angry mobs. It was not easy, but Paul trusted God through the twists, turns, and drops.

Because we don’t know what tomorrow holds, life might feel like a roller coaster. But like Paul, we can trust God’s promise that He will carry us to the destination He has planned. When life feels like a roller coaster, God hasn’t lost control. We may not enjoy every climb or drop, but the ride is heading exactly where God said it would.

Lesson

Paul’s Testimony

Paul’s story wasn’t just his past; it became his tool to share the gospel before kings and rulers.

By Acts 25, Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem and transferred to Caesarea for his protection. Now he stood before Festus, the new Roman governor.

Paul’s case confused him. The charges sounded like arguments over resurrection, Jesus, and the Law—not actual crimes. To Festus, it seemed like a mess.

In the middle of this mess, Paul declared he wanted Caesar to hear his case (Acts 25:11). This wasn’t just a smart escape; this was God’s plan. In Acts 23:11, God had told Paul he would testify in Rome. Paul didn’t know the details, but now the path was opening.

Finally, Festus brought Paul before King Agrippa (Acts 25:23). Agrippa and Bernice entered with all the pomp, surrounded by commanders and city leaders. Paul, chained, faced their power. Paul had a message from God, and it was his turn to deliver it.

Acts 26 is one of the most extended and detailed accounts of Paul’s testimony in the New Testament. When given the opportunity to speak, Paul began with gratitude.

Acts 26:2 NLT

“I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders,

He was not bitter or defensive. He saw speaking before Agrippa as an opportunity because Agrippa knew Jewish customs and prophecy (Acts 26:3). Paul adjusted his message to his audience. Paul then recounted his life before Jesus.

Acts 26:4–5 NLT

“As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.

 Everyone knew Paul was a Pharisee, which made his transformation even more striking and unbelievable.

Then Paul moved to the turning point: the Damascus Road encounter. He gave the dramatic details of the light from heaven and God’s voice speaking in Hebrew.

For Agrippa, this made it clear: Paul did not have a hallucination, but a real, deeply Jewish revelation.

Paul then recounted the commission he received from Jesus:

Acts 26:16–18 NLT

Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

There, in the courtroom, his testimony became a sermon! Festus interrupted:

Acts 26:24 NLT

Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”

To this guy, visions and resurrection sounded like nonsense.

But for King Agrippa… he had a different response!

Acts 26:28 NKJV

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

A king, raised in a dynasty often against the gospel, admitted that he was nearly convinced!

Paul’s testimony looked like madness to Festus but truth to Agrippa - same story, different impact, depending on the listener’s heart!

If we step back, we see something bigger unfolding. When Paul was converted, God has said this about him:

Acts 9:15 NKJV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

Paul had testified before Jews, Gentiles, and now a king. Soon he would face Caesar. Each step showed God was doing this!

God shared the destination, not every detail. Paul rarely got step-by-step instructions. He knew the end: Testify in Rome. The path unfolded gradually, requiring both trust in God and wise choices. Paul’s testimony became the way God fulfilled His plan.

Emoji Story

For each student, make a copy of the Emoji Handout.

Give each student a copy of the handout and a pen or pencil.

Have students circle three emojis that best describe the stages of their walk with God. (Where you were, where you are now…)

Sometimes it’s hard to put our walk with God into words, but using symbols, like emojis, can help. Each emoji tells a story—a heart can represent love; a lightbulb can represent understanding God and His Word; praying hands can represent praying, surrendering to God, and trusting in Him.

Paul’s life can be an example: Before Jesus, “sad” or “angry” emojis would have fit him. After his encounter with Jesus, love, joy, and hope took center stage.

Thinking about our own journey this way helps us see where we have been and where God is leading us. Sharing our “emoji story” is a simple, relatable way to tell our testimony and how God is working in our lives.

Discuss the following questions:

Which emoji best describes Paul’s life before he met Jesus? What about after he met Jesus?

Have students ponder this question. Which emoji best describes your walk with God right now? (They don’t have to answer aloud.)

How can you share your “emoji story” with someone else in real life?

A Story that Matters

Imagine this scenario: You’re at home, scrolling on your phone when a video call comes from someone you’ve always wanted to talk to—someone important. Your heart races because this could be a transformative conversation.

But just as you try to answer, your phone battery dies. You feel frustrated and anxious because the opportunity slipped away.

Now imagine this call wasn’t just for fun; it was for you to share something life-changing—a truth or warning someone needs. Missing the call feels crushing because you know what you have to say truly matters.

By the time you get to Acts 25-26, Paul’s life looked like it was “on hold.” He had been in Caesarea for two years, locked up under Roman watch, unable to travel or preach freely.

To someone on the outside, it might seem like God’s plan was stalled. But Paul stayed focused—not on what he could not do, but on what God had called Him to do: testify about Jesus.

Every trial, every delay, every circumstance was, in God’s providence, an opportunity to advance God’s kingdom.

What made Paul’s determination remarkable was his perspective on success. He was not driven by applause or approval. He knew the ultimate measure of effectiveness was faithfulness to God’s calling, not the immediate results. Paul had experienced firsthand that God can turn opposition, false accusations, and imprisonment into opportunities for testimony and influence.

Paul was committed to sharing his story because personal witness is powerful. Unlike debates about doctrine, a testimony shows Jesus at work in our lives. In Acts 26 Paul told how he went from persecutor to preacher—a story that couldn’t be ignored. A testimony works because it’s real proof that God can transform anyone’s life.

For each of us today, Paul’s example is an invitation. Your story matters, no matter how ordinary it seems or how small your audience may appear. The Holy Ghost works through every testimony to reveal the transforming power of Jesus.

Remember, no testimony is too small. No life is too ordinary. What God has done in you is enough to reach someone who needs to see His power, love, and redemption in action.

In Acts 26 Paul stood before Agrippa, not just debating theology but preaching salvation. And salvation starts with this truth: We all need forgiveness. Every person has sinned. But here’s the good news: Jesus offers complete forgiveness, and He shows us the way in Acts 2:38.

Acts 2:38 KJV 1900

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Notice the order:

First, repentance—turning from sin.

Second, baptism in Jesus’ name for remission of sins.

Third, receiving the Holy Ghost.

This isn’t optional; it’s God’s plan for our salvation. Paul knew its power. His life shows that when we fully submit, the old life ends and a new life in Christ begins.

But salvation doesn’t stop at Acts 2:38. God calls us to repentance that continues, a life that produces fruit worthy of the calling. In Matthew 3:8, we are told to “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.”

Matthew 3:8 KJV 1900

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Matthew 3:8 NLT

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

That means we don’t just say, “I’m sorry, God,” and keep living the same way. True repentance is seen in changed behavior, a heart that wants to honor God, and a lifestyle that shows the difference Christ has made. Paul could have just said, “I’m saved now,” and rested. Instead, he devoted his whole life to walking in holiness and teaching others the same truths he had received from Jesus.

Finally, the message of salvation includes helping others understand the new birth. Paul did not stand before Agrippa or Festus without God’s help. In Acts 26:22, Paul said,

Acts 26:22 NLT

But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen—

God equips His children to share their faith. That might mean leading a Bible study, inviting someone to church, or simply sharing your testimony. God uses us to help others see the light of Jesus and understand His plan, the same plan Paul faithfully preached.

The message of salvation is simple but powerful: repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus for forgiveness, and receiving the Holy Ghost. The message of a saved life is living a life of good fruit and helping disciple others closer to Jesus.

And here’s the most exciting part for you as a young person: God doesn’t just call adults to this task; He calls you too. You may feel inexperienced or unsure of how to start. But God’s Spirit can give you the words, the courage, and the boldness to help someone else experience the same transforming power of Jesus Christ that you know. Your obedience and your story can point someone to the greatest gift anyone could ever receive: forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost, according to God’s perfect plan in Acts 2:38.

Conclusion

Index Cards

For each student, write at the top of an index card: One way Jesus has changed my life is…

Give each student a prepared index card and a pen.

Have students finish the sentence.

Collect the cards and place them on a board or wall as a visual reminder that God is working in everyone”s life.

Pray, thanking God for the variety of testimonies in the room. Ask Him to use each one as a witness to others.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for Paul’s example and for giving each of us a story of Your grace. Remind us no testimony is too small when You’re in it. Give us boldness to speak, live with integrity, and point others to You. Use our stories to change lives.

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