Puppet Show | Almost Right, But Not Quite

Lesson Topic: Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, Sharing the Gospel, Baptism in Jesus’ Name, and Obeying God’s Word

Main Point: When Philip explained the good news about Jesus to the Ethiopian official, the man believed the message and wanted to be baptized. God wants us to hear His Word, believe it, and respond in obedience.

Scripture: Acts 8:36: “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”

Additional Scripture: Acts 8:26–39; Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Lesson Overview

Make Bible review time exciting with this humorous puppet lesson about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch! Using just one puppet and a Bible, the teacher will review the story from Acts 8 while the puppet provides a series of ridiculous answers to simple questions.

The children will have the opportunity to correct the puppet, demonstrate what they’ve learned, and help explain why the Ethiopian official wanted to be baptized after hearing Philip preach about Jesus.

This activity works especially well after teaching the story of Philip and the Ethiopian. It can also be used as a short introduction to a lesson about baptism in Jesus’ name.

The puppet’s silly responses will keep children laughing while reinforcing the important details of the Bible story.

Supplies Needed

• One hand puppet
• Bible
• A teacher and a puppeteer (or one person capable of performing both roles)

Preparation

Before class, read Acts 8:26–39 and become familiar with the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

Review the main events: An angel of the Lord directed Philip to travel toward Gaza. Along the way, Philip encountered an Ethiopian official who was returning from Jerusalem and reading the book of Isaiah while riding in his chariot.

The Spirit directed Philip to approach the chariot. When Philip asked whether the man understood what he was reading, the Ethiopian invited him to explain the Scripture.

Philip began with the passage from Isaiah and preached Jesus to him. As they traveled, they came to water, and the Ethiopian asked to be baptized. Philip baptized him, and the Ethiopian continued on his way rejoicing.

Practice the puppet dialogue before class. The puppet should be enthusiastic, slightly confused, and completely convinced that its ridiculous answers are correct.

Teacher Tip: Encourage the puppeteer to pause after each silly answer so the children have time to laugh and respond. The humor works best when the puppet acts surprised that its answers are wrong.

Puppet Script: Philip and the Ethiopian

The teacher stands at the front of the classroom holding a Bible. The puppet suddenly appears, looking excited.

Puppet: Hey, everybody! Guess what? I’ve been studying my Bible!

Teacher: That’s wonderful! What have you been learning about?

Puppet: Oh, all kinds of things! I’ve been learning about chariots, chickens, swimming pools, and a man named Philip!

Teacher: Chickens and swimming pools? Are you sure you’ve been reading your Bible?

Puppet: Of course! I’m practically a Bible expert now!

Teacher: Well, let’s find out. Boys and girls, do you think we should ask our friend a few questions about the Bible?

Allow the children to respond.

Puppet: Go ahead! Ask me anything! I know EVERYTHING!

Teacher: All right. Today we’re reviewing the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch from Acts chapter 8.

Puppet: Oh, I LOVE that story! Especially the part about the chicken!

Teacher: The chicken? There wasn’t a chicken in this story!

Puppet: Are you sure? I thought there was a very important chicken.

Teacher: Well, let’s see how much you remember. In our Bible story, an Ethiopian official was traveling in his chariot and reading from the book of Isaiah. But he didn’t understand what he was reading. Who came along to help him?

Puppet: Oh, I know! A CHICKEN WITH READING GLASSES!

Teacher: A chicken with reading glasses?!

Puppet: Yep! A very smart chicken! He had little glasses and everything!

Teacher: Boys and girls, was it a chicken who helped the Ethiopian understand the Bible?

Allow the children to shout, “NO!”

Teacher: Then who was it?

Encourage the children to answer, “PHILIP!”

Teacher: That’s right! It was Philip!

Puppet: Philip? Are you sure Philip wasn’t the chicken’s name?

Teacher: I’m absolutely sure! Philip was a man who preached the Gospel, and God sent him to help the Ethiopian understand the Scriptures.

Puppet: Ohhhhh! Well, I was close!

Teacher: Not even a little bit! Now, here’s another question. When Philip joined the Ethiopian in his chariot, what did Philip tell him about?

Puppet: Oh, that’s easy! He taught him how to DRIVE THE CHARIOT!

Teacher: How to drive the chariot?!

Puppet: Of course! You have to know how to steer those things! Turn left! Turn right! Watch out for that camel!

The puppet pretends to steer a chariot wildly.

Teacher: Stop! Stop! You’re going to crash!

Puppet: BRAAAAAKES!

The puppet suddenly stops moving.

Teacher: Philip wasn’t teaching him how to drive. Boys and girls, what did Philip tell the Ethiopian about?

Encourage the children to answer, “JESUS!”

Teacher: Exactly! Acts 8:35 says, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

Puppet: Jesus! Oh, that’s MUCH better than driving lessons!

Teacher: It certainly is! Philip explained the good news about Jesus Christ. He helped the Ethiopian understand that Jesus is our Savior. Now, as Philip and the Ethiopian continued traveling, they came to some water. What did the Ethiopian ask to do?

Puppet: STOP FOR A PICNIC!

Teacher: A picnic?!

Puppet: Absolutely! They’d been riding in that chariot all day! I bet they were hungry! Maybe they had sandwiches!

Teacher: No, they didn’t stop for sandwiches!

Puppet: Fried chicken?

Teacher: NO!

Puppet: Chicken sandwiches?

Teacher: Why do you keep talking about chickens?!

Puppet: I guess I’m hungry!

Teacher: Boys and girls, what did the Ethiopian ask to do when they came to the water?

Encourage the children to answer, “BE BAPTIZED!”

Teacher: That’s exactly right! He wanted to be baptized!

Puppet: Baptized? Right there in the water?

Teacher: Yes! He had heard Philip preach about Jesus, and he wanted to respond to the message.

Puppet: Wow! He didn’t even wait until he got home?

Teacher: No! When they came to water, he asked to be baptized.

Read Acts 8:36: “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”

Puppet: Wait a minute! I’ve got another question!

Teacher: What’s that?

Puppet: Did Philip just sprinkle a little water on the Ethiopian’s head?

Teacher: No. The Bible tells us that they both went down into the water.

Puppet: Both of them?

Teacher: That’s right!

Puppet: Even Philip?

Teacher: Yes! Philip went into the water with him and baptized him.

Read Acts 8:38–39: “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”

Puppet: So they went DOWN into the water and came UP out of the water?

Teacher: Exactly!

Puppet: And the Ethiopian was happy afterward?

Teacher: Yes! The Bible says he went on his way rejoicing!

Puppet: WOO-HOO! That’s something to be happy about!

Teacher: Now, boys and girls, let’s remember something else very important about baptism. The Bible tells us how the apostles baptized people after they believed the Gospel.

Puppet: Oh! I know this one! They baptized them in the name of…

The puppet pauses dramatically.

Puppet: PHILIP!

Teacher: No! Not Philip!

Puppet: The Ethiopian?

Teacher: No!

Puppet: The chicken?!

Teacher: THERE WAS NO CHICKEN!

Allow the children to laugh.

Teacher: Boys and girls, whose name does the Bible tell us to be baptized in?

Encourage the children to shout, “JESUS!”

Teacher: That’s right! The name of JESUS!

Read Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Puppet: So we should repent, be baptized in Jesus’ name, and receive the Holy Ghost?

Teacher: That’s exactly what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost!

Puppet: Wow! I think I’m finally getting it!

Teacher: All right. Let’s see if you can remember what we’ve learned. Who helped the Ethiopian understand the Scriptures?

Puppet: PHILIP!

Teacher: Correct! And who did Philip preach about?

Puppet: JESUS!

Teacher: Excellent! And what did the Ethiopian want to do when they came to water?

Puppet: BE BAPTIZED!

Teacher: Wonderful! And whose name should we be baptized in?

Puppet: JESUS’ NAME!

Teacher: You got every answer right!

Puppet: I told you I was a Bible expert!

Teacher: Well, you certainly learned a lot today.

Puppet: Yep! And I learned one more thing!

Teacher: What’s that?

Puppet: Never trust a chicken to drive your chariot!

Teacher: OH, BROTHER!

The puppet laughs and waves goodbye to the children.

Bringing the Lesson Home

After the puppet disappears, briefly review the important truths from the Bible story.

Explain that the Ethiopian official was reading the Scriptures, but he needed someone to help him understand what they meant. God sent Philip to explain the good news about Jesus Christ.

Remind the children that Philip didn’t simply tell the Ethiopian an interesting story. He preached Jesus, and the Ethiopian responded by asking to be baptized.

Explain that baptism is an important part of obeying the Gospel. In Acts 2:38, Peter instructed people to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Ask the children to tell you one thing they remember from the story. Allow several children to respond, reinforcing the important details about Philip, the Ethiopian, Jesus, and baptism.

Encourage children who have questions about baptism to speak with their parents, pastor, or Sunday School teacher.