Introduction to Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem
Paul’s third missionary journey was coming to an end. He had traveled through many cities, taught believers, faced opposition, and spent significant time in Ephesus. Now Paul was heading toward Jerusalem.
But there was a problem. Paul knew that difficult things were waiting for him. Along the way, believers warned him about what could happen. Friends were concerned, and the closer Paul got to Jerusalem, the more serious the warnings became. Yet Paul kept going.
So why was Paul so determined to go to Jerusalem? And what can preteens learn from someone who continued toward something difficult even when other people were telling him to stop?
Where Does Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem Begin?
The final part of Paul’s third missionary journey is recorded in Acts 20–21. After leaving Ephesus, Paul traveled through Macedonia and Greece before beginning his journey toward Jerusalem. He eventually reached Miletus, where he called for the elders from Ephesus.
This became one of the most emotional moments of his journey. Paul knew he was moving toward something difficult, but he also knew that his mission was not finished.
Paul Says Goodbye at Miletus
Paul sent for the elders from the church at Ephesus to meet him at Miletus. He reminded them of how he had served among them, teaching publicly and from house to house and remaining faithful despite opposition. Now he was saying goodbye.
Paul told them that he was going to Jerusalem, but he also explained something important: he did not know exactly what would happen to him there. He only knew that difficult circumstances were ahead.
That must have been frightening. Paul wasn’t walking into Jerusalem because he thought everything would be easy. He knew there was a cost.
Paul Knew Trouble Was Ahead
Acts 20:22–23 gives us one of the key ideas for understanding Paul’s determination. Paul explains that he was going to Jerusalem even though the Holy Spirit was warning him that imprisonment and hardships awaited him.
Think about that. Paul wasn’t unaware of the danger. He wasn’t being careless, and he wasn’t pretending everything would be fine. He knew there could be suffering, and he still continued.
This is one of the most powerful parts of Paul’s third missionary journey.
Was Paul Being Reckless?
It might be tempting to read the story and think, “Paul just ignored everyone and did whatever he wanted.” But that’s not what the passage presents.
Paul wasn’t simply chasing danger. He believed he had a mission to complete. He said that he considered his life worth nothing compared with finishing the race and completing the task the Lord Jesus had given him.
Paul’s focus was not, “I want to prove I’m brave.” His focus was, “I want to finish what God has called me to do.”
That’s an important difference.
The “Finish the Race” Picture
Paul used the picture of a race to describe his mission. This is a powerful image for preteens because they understand that finishing something difficult requires perseverance.
Imagine training for a long race. You don’t stop simply because the final section becomes difficult. You keep going because you know what you’re trying to finish.
Paul wasn’t saying that his life didn’t matter. He was saying that finishing the mission God had given him mattered more than protecting himself from every difficulty.
For preteens, this can lead to a simple question: What does it mean to finish well? It might mean continuing when something is difficult, being faithful when nobody notices, doing the right thing when friends disagree, keeping a promise, refusing to give up, or following God when the outcome is uncertain.
The Journey Continues
After Miletus, Paul continued his journey by sea. He traveled through several coastal locations as he made his way toward Jerusalem. One important stop was Tyre, where Paul and his companions found believers and stayed for seven days.
Once again, the subject of Jerusalem came up.
The Believers in Tyre Warn Paul
Acts 21 tells us that the believers in Tyre warned Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. This makes the story especially difficult because Paul’s friends weren’t enemies. They weren’t people who wanted him to fail. They were fellow believers who cared about him.
They knew that danger was ahead, and they didn’t want Paul to suffer. Yet Paul continued.
This raises an important question for preteens: What do you do when people who love you disagree with a decision you believe God is leading you to make?
That’s much deeper than simply asking whether Paul should have listened to them. It asks us to think about wisdom, calling, courage, and discernment.
Paul Reaches Ptolemais
Paul continued south and arrived at Ptolemais, where he visited the believers and stayed for a short time. Then he continued to Caesarea.
Every stop brought Paul closer to Jerusalem, and the tension in the story continued to build.
Agabus Warns Paul
In Caesarea, Paul stayed with Philip the evangelist. While he was there, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea and gave a dramatic warning about what would happen to Paul in Jerusalem.
Agabus used Paul’s belt to demonstrate what would happen. The message was clear: Paul would face serious trouble in Jerusalem.
Once again, the people around Paul urged him not to continue.
Paul’s Friends Beg Him to Stop
This time, the reaction was even stronger. Paul’s companions and the believers there begged him not to go to Jerusalem.
Imagine being Paul. You’ve already heard warnings. You’ve already seen the concern on your friends’ faces. Now people you care about are pleading with you to stop.
Would you continue?
Paul did.
“I Am Ready”
Paul’s response is one of the most powerful moments in Acts 21. He essentially says that he is ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Paul wasn’t excited about suffering, and he wasn’t looking for danger. He was saying, “I am willing to remain faithful, whatever happens.”
That is very different from deliberately putting yourself in danger. Paul’s courage came from his commitment to Jesus and the mission he believed he had been given.
The Believers Finally Respond
When the believers realized that Paul would not be persuaded, they stopped trying to convince him. Instead, they responded, “The Lord’s will be done.”
That is an important ending to this part of the story. They didn’t understand everything. They were worried about Paul, but they ultimately trusted God.
Paul Arrives in Jerusalem
Paul and his companions eventually continued their journey. Acts 21:15–17 records their arrival in Jerusalem.
The journey was over. Paul had traveled from the regions of Asia Minor and Greece, through coastal cities, and finally reached Jerusalem.
But this wasn’t the end of Paul’s story. It was the beginning of another difficult chapter. The warnings had been real, the suffering was coming, but Paul had reached the place he had been determined to reach.
Why Was Paul So Determined to Go?
So we come back to the original question: Why was Paul determined to go to Jerusalem?
The simplest answer is that Paul believed he had a mission to complete.
His determination wasn’t about proving himself or wanting attention. It wasn’t because he thought nothing bad could happen. Paul understood that suffering was possible, but he believed that being faithful to Jesus was more important than avoiding every difficulty.
Courage Doesn’t Mean You Aren’t Afraid
This is an important distinction when teaching preteens. Sometimes we describe courage as “not being afraid.” But Paul gives us a better picture.
Courage can mean knowing something is difficult and choosing to do what is right anyway.
Paul knew what might happen. He had warnings, concerned friends, and reasons to be afraid. But he continued.
That is courage.
Does This Mean We Should Ignore Warnings?
Absolutely not. This is an important point to make with preteens.
Paul didn’t simply ignore everyone. He listened to what people were saying. He considered the warnings. He understood the danger. But he also believed that his mission required him to continue.
The lesson isn’t “Ignore people who warn you.” The lesson is “Listen carefully, seek God’s wisdom, and learn to distinguish between avoiding difficulty and being faithful.”
That’s a much healthier lesson.
What Can Preteens Learn From Paul?
1. Doing the Right Thing Isn’t Always Easy
Sometimes the right choice is also the difficult choice. Being honest might cost you. Standing up for someone might make you unpopular. Refusing to join in with something wrong might leave you feeling left out.
Paul reminds us that difficulty doesn’t automatically mean we’ve made the wrong choice.
2. We Need Wise People Around Us
Paul had people who cared enough to warn him. That’s important. We need parents, teachers, pastors, mentors, and trusted Christian friends who will tell us the truth—even when we don’t want to hear it.
3. We Need to Know What Matters Most
Paul knew what his mission was. That gave him direction when the road became difficult.
Preteens also need a sense of what matters most. Who do I want to become? What kind of person does God want me to be? What choices reflect my faith?
4. Faithfulness Is More Important Than Popularity
Paul’s decision wasn’t the popular choice. His friends didn’t want him to go, but he believed he needed to remain faithful.
Sometimes following Jesus means choosing faithfulness over popularity.
5. We Don’t Always Know What Comes Next
Paul knew trouble was coming, but he didn’t know every detail. Sometimes we want God to give us a complete plan. Instead, we may only know the next step.
Paul teaches us that we can move forward without knowing everything about the future.
A Simple Preteen Discussion
After reading Acts 20–21, ask students whether they would have wanted Paul to go to Jerusalem and why. Then ask why they think Paul went anyway.
A second question is important: Is being brave the same as doing something dangerous?
Finally, ask students to think about something difficult that might require courage at school, at home, or with friends.
These questions move the lesson from Paul’s ancient journey into the everyday world of preteens.
A “Keep Going” Bible Activity
Give each student a piece of paper and ask them to draw a road. Along the road, add obstacles such as fear, peer pressure, failure, criticism, disappointment, and uncertainty.
At the end of the road, write FAITHFULNESS.
Students can then add Bible verses, people who encourage them, prayer, Scripture, or other reminders along their road.
The goal isn’t to teach that Christians should never stop. It’s to help students think about when perseverance is needed and how God helps us continue faithfully.
Paul’s Journey Was About More Than Geography
A map can show us that Paul traveled from Miletus → Tyre → Ptolemais → Caesarea → Jerusalem.
But the Bible shows us something deeper. This wasn’t simply a journey from one city to another. It was a journey involving calling, warning, courage, faithfulness, and obedience.
Paul knew the destination. He didn’t know everything that would happen along the way. But he continued.
Ready to Explore Paul’s Third Journey?
Paul’s journey to Jerusalem forms an important part of Paul’s third missionary journey, but it is only one part of a much larger story.
From Ephesus to Macedonia, Greece, Troas, Miletus, Tyre, Caesarea, and finally Jerusalem, preteens can discover a journey filled with real people, difficult decisions, unexpected events, and opportunities to see faith in action.
If you want to turn that journey into a hands-on Bible adventure, Paul’s Journey #3 Bible Escape Room takes preteens through four connected puzzles covering WHERE, WHAT, WHO, and WORLD. Students search Scripture, solve clues, work together, and complete the story themselves.
It’s a low-prep printable activity designed for ages 10–13, ideal for Sunday School, Kids’ Church, Christian classrooms, homeschool Bible studies, and preteen groups.
Final Thought
Paul’s journey to Jerusalem is a story about knowing where you are going even when you don’t know exactly what will happen when you get there.
Paul heard the warnings. He listened to his friends. He understood the danger. And he continued because he believed the mission Jesus had given him was worth following.
For preteens, perhaps the biggest lesson isn’t “Be like Paul and never stop.” It is:
Listen carefully. Seek God’s wisdom. Know what matters. And when God calls you to do what is right, don’t let fear make the decision for you.
Paul’s journey to Jerusalem reminds us that faith isn’t always about knowing what lies ahead. Sometimes it’s about being faithful with the next step.
You can also go to our Etsy store and purchase the Escape Room Puzzle on Paul’s Third Journey directly.