Who Was Paul in the Bible? (For Kids)
Paul was a man who once arrested Christians — until Jesus met him with a blinding light on the road to Damascus. He became the church’s greatest missionary and wrote thirteen letters that are now books of the New Testament.
- When
- In the years just after Jesus rose from the dead
- Found in
- Acts 9–28, and his letters from Romans to Philemon
- Big idea
- Nobody is too far gone for God to change.
Paul’s story, step by step
- 1
Saul the persecutor
His first name was Saul. He was a brilliant student of the law who believed he was serving God by dragging Christians off to prison.
- 2
A light on the road
On the way to Damascus a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4). He got up blind.
- 3
Three days in the dark
For three days Saul could not see. Then God sent a frightened but obedient believer named Ananias to pray for him, and something like scales fell from his eyes.
- 4
The missionary
Paul travelled thousands of miles across the Roman world planting churches — beaten, stoned, jailed and still going.
- 5
Singing in prison
Locked in a jail in Philippi at midnight, Paul and Silas sang hymns. An earthquake shook the doors open, and the jailer and his whole family believed.
- 6
Shipwrecked but safe
On the way to Rome as a prisoner, Paul’s ship broke apart in a storm off Malta. Every single person on board reached land alive, just as God had promised him.
Memory verse
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
Fun facts about Paul
- Paul made tents for a living while he preached (Acts 18:3).
- He wrote several of his letters from prison, including Philippians.
- He was shipwrecked more than once and once spent a night and a day in the sea (2 Corinthians 11:25).
- A snake bit his hand on Malta and he simply shook it into the fire (Acts 28:5).
Paul's Shipwreck coloring page
Free printable Paul's Shipwreck coloring page — sailing ship in a storm reaching land with the KJV verse.
Open & printTake the Paul quiz
Test what you remember with questions drawn straight from the King James text.
Start the quiz More Bible quizzes for kidsTalk about it
- Paul was doing the wrong thing and thought he was right. How do we check what we believe?
- Ananias was scared to go to Saul but went anyway. When has obeying God felt scary?
- Paul sang in prison. What can you thank God for on a bad day?
Do it together
Draw a map of the Mediterranean and mark Paul’s stops — Damascus, Antioch, Philippi, Corinth, Ephesus, Malta, Rome. Then colour the shipwreck printable and memorise Philippians 4:13.
Dear God, thank You that You changed Paul completely. Please change my heart too, and make me brave to tell others about Jesus. Amen.
Questions kids ask about Paul
Who was Paul in the Bible?
Paul, first called Saul of Tarsus, persecuted the early church until Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. He became the apostle to the Gentiles, planted churches across the Roman world, and wrote thirteen New Testament letters.
Why did Saul change his name to Paul?
He did not really change it — Saul was his Hebrew name and Paul his Roman name. Acts begins calling him Paul as he starts working mainly among Gentiles (Acts 13:9).
How many books did Paul write?
Thirteen New Testament letters carry Paul's name, from Romans through Philemon. The authorship of Hebrews is not stated in the text.
What happened on the road to Damascus?
A light from heaven shone around Saul, he fell to the earth, and Jesus asked, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Saul was blind for three days until Ananias prayed for him (Acts 9:1–19).