Lesson

Barnabas Sunday School Lesson for Kids

A free Barnabas Sunday school lesson (Acts 4, 9, 11) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story, questions, memory verse and take-home.

Preschool–Grade 6

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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages: Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6)
Time: 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
Scripture: Acts 4:36–37; Acts 9:26–31; Acts 11:22–26
Bible story: Barnabas

What you need

A Bible (mark Acts 9:27 and Acts 11:24)
Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
A beanbag or a small soft book (opening game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
5 paper strips, a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A teddy bear or other stuffed animal (preschool)
A soft ball (activity, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
Paper and pencils (preteens)
Printed take-home sheets, one per child
Printed Barnabas word search and crayons for early finishers

This free Barnabas Sunday school lesson teaches kids to be encouragers. The apostles named Joses "Barnabas," which means "The son of consolation" (Acts 4:36). When the disciples were all afraid of Saul, "Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles" (Acts 9:27). Later he encouraged the new believers in Antioch to cleave unto the Lord. It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a cheer-up-the-bear game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith") with motions, and a drawing activity.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the Try It Twice game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Stand Together Verse memory game, and a Pass the Encouragement game.
3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a what's-in-a-name game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story ("The son of consolation," "they were all afraid of him," "Barnabas took him," "cleave unto the Lord"), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read Acts 4:36–37, 9:26–31 and 11:22–26 out loud themselves, then look closer at a name that fit, the risk Barnabas took, and how he went looking for Saul. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Acts 11:24 and 1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Lesson at a glance

Bible passage: Acts 4:36–37; Acts 9:26–31; Acts 11:22–26
Main point: Be an encourager. Barnabas stood by Saul and helped people stay close to the Lord.
Memory verse: Acts 11:24 (KJV), with 1 Thessalonians 5:11 added for preteens
Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

Opening game: a short game about kind, encouraging words.
Bible story: Joses surnamed Barnabas, "The son of consolation" (Acts 4:36), the money laid at the apostles' feet (4:37), the disciples "all afraid" of Saul (9:26), "Barnabas took him" (9:27), Barnabas in Antioch exhorting the believers to "cleave unto the Lord" (11:23), and the disciples "called Christians first in Antioch" (11:26). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Acts 11:24.
What this means for us: be an encourager, stay close to the Lord, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Barnabas craft, a pass-the-encouragement game, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
Prayer.

Tips for teaching Barnabas

Read Acts 9:27 straight from your Bible. Everyone was afraid of Saul, and "Barnabas took him."
Keep Saul's past simple and gentle: he fought against the believers before he met Jesus (Acts 9:21). His own story is the Saul to Paul lesson.
Acts doesn't tell us how Barnabas felt or what he said word for word, only what he did. The lessons don't add anything Acts doesn't say.
Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this Barnabas lesson take?

It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the story, three questions and the memory verse.

What is the main point of the story of Barnabas for kids?

Be an encourager. The apostles called Joses "Barnabas," which means "The son of consolation" (Acts 4:36). When the disciples were all afraid of Saul, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles (Acts 9:26–27). In Antioch he encouraged the believers to cleave unto the Lord (Acts 11:23).

What does the name Barnabas mean?

The Bible tells us itself: Barnabas means "The son of consolation" (Acts 4:36). Consolation means comfort and encouragement, helping someone feel better and keep going. His first name was Joses; the apostles gave him the name Barnabas.

Why were the disciples afraid of Saul?

Before he met Jesus, Saul fought against the people who called on Jesus' name and came to bring them bound to the chief priests (Acts 9:21). So when he came to Jerusalem, "they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple" (Acts 9:26). Barnabas told them how Saul had seen the Lord in the way (Acts 9:27).