Paul to Saul

Acts 9:1-20; 13:9

Our story comes from a book of the Bible called Acts. That name is short for “the Acts of the Apostles.” The word "Apostle" is another word to describe a helper of Jesus.

The Bible tells us that a man named Saul. Saul did not think that Jesus was God's Son. And Saul did not like the followers of Jesus.

Saul traveled from Jerusalem to Damascus. He wanted to arrest the people who believed in Jesus and take them back to Jerusalem to be punished.

When Saul came near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven flashed around him and he fell to the ground. Saul heard a voice. It said, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

Saul asked, "Who are you, Lord?"

The voice said, "I am Jesus, he One you are persecuting. Get up and go into the city. You will be told what you must do."

The men traveling with Saul could not talk. They heard the sound, but did not see anyone. Saul got up, but when he opened his eyes he could not see anything. He was blind.

The men led Saul by the hand to Damascus. Saul stayed there for three days and did not eat or drink anything.

In Damascus there was a disciple (a follower of Jesus) named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias."

"Yes, Lord," he answered.

"Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man named Saul. He is praying. In a vision he saw a man named Ananias come and put his hands on him to restore his sight.'

"Lord," Ananias said, "This man hurt your believers in Jerusalem. Now he comes here to arrest all of us here who calls on your name."

But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! I have chosen Saul to tell people about me, both the Jews (the people who believe in the Law of Moses) and the Gentiles (everyone else). And he will tell their kings, too. I will show Saul how much he must suffer for me."

Ananias went to the house and put his hands on Saul. "Brother Saul, Jesus—who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God). Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see!

Saul got up and was baptized, and after eating some food, he became strong again.

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus, the people he had come to arrest.

Immediately Saul began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

Saul changed. He changed is name, from Saul to Paul. Paul told people about Jesus. Paul told them about Jesus. People can change when they know about Jesus. We can change, too.

Bible Paraphrase: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 NIV)

Text Truth: People can change when they know about Jesus.

Family Devotional

Saul changed. When Saul met Jesus, he stopped being mean to people and started loving people. When we tell others about Jesus and how much He loves them, they can change, too.

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

 — Acts 9:17-20

Knowing Jesus changes us, because we start loving people like Jesus loves people. Make a list of things we do when we love people. It can be giving a hug, sharing your food, helping a sick person, or telling people about Jesus. Pray and ask God to help you do them.

Activities You Can Do at Home

Sing and Tell

Help your child sing a song about Jesus. Talk about how she can tell others about Jesus with songs and poems and stories.

Paint and Tell

You'll Need: construction paper, black or white crayon, watercolor paints.

Batik is an art style for dying fabric done in many parts of the world, including Africa. Let your child create a variation of it by coloring a picture on construction paper using black or white crayon. Paint the entire paper with watercolor paints. Give your artwork to someone as you tell about Jesus.

Before and After

You’ll Need: Bible, crayons, sheets of paper

• Have your child use a dark crayon to completely cover a piece of paper.
• Explain that this was how everything looked to Saul when he was blind: He saw only one color and it was very dark.
• Reread the Bible story. 
• Help your child think of things that Saul saw after Ananias touched him and Jesus healed his eyes. 
• Have your child draw these things on another piece of paper using bright-colored crayons. 
• Remind your child that Jesus told Saul to tell people about Jesus.
• Repeat with your child the Bible paraphrase: “Go and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19)

What’s in the Bag?

You’ll Need: a large shopping bag or tote bag, several items that are safe for children to handle, blindfold or mask (optional)

• Place the items in the bag. 
• Have your child cover or close his eyes, reach in the bag, and take out one thing. 
• Let him feel the object and guess what it is. 
• Play until he has guessed everything in the bag. 
• As he plays, remind your child that this was how Saul experienced the world when he became blind. Remind your child that Jesus healed Saul's eyes and told Saul to tell everyone about Jesus.
• Repeat with your child the Bible paraphrase: “Go and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19)

Practice Makes Perfect

The man Saul became Paul and told everyone that Jesus is God’s Son. Practice telling stuffed animals or other family members in various ways that Jesus is God’s Son.

Pray for Courage to Tell

• As a family, pick one or several people you would like to tell that Jesus is God’s Son. 
• Pray for courage to speak to those people this week.

-
The illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported license. www.freebibleimages.org

-