The final lesson in our study of the book of Acts! Although, I have a review about Paul and then Peter. Review: We’ve been studying about Paul’s life. The last couple of weeks we talked about Paul being put on a ship and taken to Rome, but on the way, there was a storm and their boat hit a sandbar. They swam to the Island of Malta. Remember that a poisonous snake bit Paul when he was putting sticks onto a fire, but nothing happened to him. Paul healed the Island Governor's father and people came to him to be healed after they saw what Paul could do. The people on the island gave Paul and his companions everything they needed to continue their travel. They left the island after being there for three months. Lesson: Today's lesson is found in Acts 28:11-31. They stopped a couple of places on the way to Rome and they followed the south winds and landed in Puteoli. (Acts 28:13) They found the Christians there and stayed for seven days. They traveled and stopped two more places and when Paul saw the Christians from these other places, Paul was thankful to God, and it made him stronger to know that there were more Christians. When they arrived in Rome, the prisoners were handed over to the captain of the guard. Paul was allowed to stay by himself with a soldier to guard him. After three days, Paul called the chief of the Jews together. He explained what had happened to him, why he was a prisoner and how they should have let him go but didn’t. (Acts 28:18) He said they had examined him, they wanted to let him go because there wasn’t a reason to put him to death. Paul told them that he had appealed to Caesar. And now Paul has called for the Jews. He wanted to tell them why he was there and ask for help. They told Paul that they hadn’t received any letters about him, and they hadn’t heard anything bad about him either. They told Paul that they wanted to hear what he thought. They set up a day for the people to go to where Paul was staying. Paul talked about Moses and the old law and the Old Testament prophets. Paul explained to them about Jesus. A lot of people came to see Paul to hear what he had to say. Some of them believed and some did not. (Acts 28:24) After Paul talked to them, the Jews left and had great discussions about what Paul had told them. (Acts 28:29) Paul lived in a house that he rented for two years. Paul saw anyone who came to see him. He was vigilant teaching everyone he could about Jesus. (Acts 28:30-31) Paul stayed a prisoner in Rome for two more years and Paul hasn't even been charged with a crime! For two years, Paul lived in his own house, he was allowed to hire people and to live with him, but he was still a prisoner. He probably had help from his Roman friends at this point. People came to his house to listen to his instruction about Jesus. (Acts 28:30-31) And anyone who came to see Paul, Paul talked to about Jesus. (Paul's letters visual) Paul wrote the Books of Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians while he was a prisoner in Rome. These letters were written around A.D. 60 to 61. Today's project is another of my really different, really fun, and really old ideas that I have done for years. I have updated it for you, though. Before class prep: Cut out all the parts, glue the envelopes together and put each person's items in the envelope for easier handout. Including the 13 stamps. Kid's Project: Fold each 'letter from Paul' as I tell them something about each one. It might be a lesson we have coming up from that letter, where Paul was, who it is to, etc. You can see from the next photo; they will fold up the bottom (where it says from: Paul) and tuck it into the top flap. Once they have folded it, they put a stamp on the front and use the stampers I have and postmark them. Then they will put them all in their envelopes to take home. We will also talk about how Paul had to write the letters and have them delivered. I purchased stamps from the Post Office for them to use. (I usually buy 1 cent stamps, but they didn't have 200 of them, so I bought half 2 cent stamps/half 1 cent. Really cheap for a project, though... and it is sooo much fun for them!) The postmark wood stamper above is by All Night Media and is called Wish Postmark # 554E. I don't think it is produced anymore, but I purchase them on eBay.  Click here to print today's project which includes the envelope for the '13 letters'. Click here to print. You can find all the Acts worksheets here. Click here to download updated visuals. Bible Verse: Colossians 3:16 Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.