New Testament Kings

EXPLORING THE NEW TESTAMENT KINGS FOR KIDS

Introduction:

Hey, kids! A long time ago, in the stories from the New Testament, there were powerful kings
and rulers who lived when Jesus and His friends were on Earth. These kings had big jobs, like
ruling over people, making decisions, and sometimes even meeting Jesus or His followers.
Some listened to God, and some didn’t! Let’s learn about these kings and their adventures to
see how God works in the world!

1. King Herod the Great - The Builder King

Role:

Herod the Great was a king who ruled when Jesus was born and built big things, but he was
scared of losing his power.

Message:

Trusting God is better than being afraid and making bad choices.

Context:

Herod was king over Judea when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He fixed up the big Temple in
Jerusalem, but when wise men told him a new “king” (Jesus) was born, he got jealous and mad.
He tried to find baby Jesus to stop Him, but God kept Jesus safe with Mary and Joseph.

Scripture Memory Verse:

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” – Matthew 10:28a (NIV)

Activity:

Make a paper crown and write “Herod the Great” on it. Build a little “temple” with blocks, then
talk about how trusting God is better than being scared like Herod was.

2. King Herod Antipas - The Tricky Ruler

Role:

Herod Antipas was a ruler who met Jesus and John the Baptist, but he didn’t always do the right
thing.

Message:

We should choose what’s right, even when it’s hard, instead of being tricky.

Context:

Herod Antipas was a son of Herod the Great and ruled part of the land when Jesus grew up. He
heard John the Baptist tell people to obey God, but he put John in jail and later let him be killed
to keep a promise. He also met Jesus before the cross but didn’t help Him.

Scripture Memory Verse:

“Stand firm, and you will win life.” – Luke 21:19 (NIV)

Activity:

Make a paper crown and write “Herod Antipas” on it. Play a game of “right or wrong” (e.g., “Is it
right to share toys?”), and talk about making good choices, not tricky ones like Herod.

3. King Herod Agrippa I - The Mean King

Role:

Herod Agrippa I was a king who hurt Jesus’ friends but learned God is stronger than any ruler.

Message:

God is in charge, and we should follow Him, not fight Him!

Context:

Herod Agrippa I was a grandson of Herod the Great. He ruled years after Jesus went to heaven
and wanted people to like him. He hurt the disciples by putting James (the Elder, son of
Zebedee) in jail and killing him with a sword. He also tried to catch Peter, but God sent an angel
to free him! Later, Herod bragged about being great, and God showed him who’s really the boss
by making him sick.

Scripture Memory Verse:

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)

Activity:

Make a paper crown and write “Herod Agrippa I” on it. Pretend to be a king, then “fall” off a chair
(safely!) to show God is bigger. Talk about how we should obey God, not be mean like Herod.

4. King Agrippa II - The Listening King

Role:

Agrippa II was a king who listened to Paul talk about Jesus but didn’t fully follow Him.

Message:

It’s great to listen to God’s story, but we should say “yes” to Jesus too!

Context:

Agrippa II was a ruler years after Jesus went to heaven, and he was Herod Agrippa I’s son.
Paul, a big Jesus follower, was in trouble and told Agrippa all about Jesus. Agrippa listened and
said, “You almost make me want to be a Christian!” But he didn’t choose to follow Jesus then.

Scripture Memory Verse:

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” – Hebrews 3:15a (NIV)

Activity:

Make a paper crown and write “Agrippa II” on it. Sit and listen to a short Bible story (like Jesus’
love), then say, “Yes, Jesus!” Talk about how we can choose to follow Jesus when we hear
about Him.

5. Emperor Nero - The Cruel Emperor

Role:

Nero was a powerful emperor who ruled over Rome and made life hard for Jesus’ followers.

Message:

Even when people are mean to us, God helps us stay strong and love Him.

Context:

Nero was the big boss of the Roman Empire years after Jesus went to heaven. He didn’t like
Christians and blamed them for a big fire in Rome that he might have started himself! He hurt
many of Jesus’ friends, like Paul and Peter, who were brave even when Nero was cruel. But
God was with them, and their faith grew stronger.

Scripture Memory Verse:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid.” – Joshua 1:9a (NIV)

Activity:

Make a paper crown and write “Nero” on it. Draw a little “fire” with red and orange crayons, then
talk about how you can be brave for Jesus, even when things are tough, unlike Nero who was
mean.

Note for Kids:

In the New Testament, Jesus is the real King of everything, but these rulers show us what
happened when people met Him or His friends. Some, like Nero and Herod Agrippa I, said “no”
to God and were mean, while others, like Agrippa II, almost said “yes.” They help us see that
following Jesus is the best choice, no matter what any king does!

Why These Kings?

– Herod the Great (Matthew 2) ruled when Jesus was born.
– Herod Antipas (Luke 3, 23) met John the Baptist and Jesus.
– Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12) hurt the early church but faced God’s power.
– Agrippa II (Acts 25-26) heard Paul’s story later on.
– Nero (mentioned indirectly in Acts and Paul’s letters, like 2 Timothy) was a Roman emperor
who persecuted Christians around AD 64-68.

New Testament Kings

EXPLORING THE NEW TESTAMENT KINGS FOR KIDS

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Why These Kings?

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