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Teacher's Background Information Saul Becomes a Believer - Acts 9:1–28

Central Truth: Jesus has the power to turn our hearts away from sin to him. As he did for Saul, Jesus rescues us from sin’s darkness and brings us to faith in him. Lesson Objectives By the power of the Holy Spirit, the students will:

• KNOW that Jesus gave Saul faith in him, forgave his sins, and led Paul to tell many people the truth of salvation.

• GROW in recognition of their sins and ask God for forgiveness.

• GO repent of their sins and thank God for his forgiveness for them for Jesus’ sake.

Bible Memory Verse: "Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:2 Bible Background Read Acts 9:1–28 1. Life was very difficult for the early Christians. They faced much persecution from the Jews who refused to believe that Jesus is the Savior whom God sent to fulfill his Old Testament promise. The Jewish leaders worked to imprison the Christians and even kill them. Despite this persecution, by God’s grace and power, the truth of Jesus continued to spread and the number of believers grew. 2. Stephen was one who faced and experienced death because of his faith in Jesus. He had been chosen by the twelve apostles to assist with the practical work of the church such as feeding widows and caring for the poor (Acts 6:1–6). Luke described Stephen as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). God gave Stephen many gifts with which to serve him. “Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). “Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke” (Acts 6:9–10). So these men instead persuaded some to give false testimony against Stephen before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. In his court trial, Stephen gave a testimony of his faith empowered by the work of the Holy Spirit within him. As Peter had in his Pentecost sermon, Stephen told the Sanhedrin, “Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it” (Acts 7:52–53). Stephen rightfully recalled all the wrongs that the Jewish leaders had done throughout the centuries to God’s prophets and to God’s Son—the Righteous One—Jesus. 3. When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, “they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him” (Acts 7:54). Then “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’” (Acts 7:55–56). What Stephen saw was true. But the Sanhedrin thought Stephen was speaking blasphemy. “At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:57–58). As Stephen died, he asked Jesus to forgive those who stoned him (Acts 7:60). As Stephen, the first Christian

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martyr died, “Saul was there, giving approval to his death” (Acts 8:1). 4. “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison” (Acts 8:1–3). The scattering of the church began to fulfill Jesus’ commission of Acts 1:8. This showed that even though evil tried to stop the spread of the truth, God worked for good. 5. Saul was born in Tarsus. He came to Jerusalem where he was trained in the Jewish faith by the most honored rabbi, named Gamaliel, of the first century. Saul was so zealous for the Jewish faith that he “breathed out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples and went to the high priest and asked for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1–2). “The Way” was another name for Christian believers. The name testifies to the fact that Jesus is the way to the Father (John 14:6) Saul was determined to destroy Christians everywhere. Saul planned to go to the synagogues to search for the Jewish followers of Jesus because they continued to worship with their fellow Jews. 6. As Saul traveled from Jerusalem to Damascus, “suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’” (Acts 9:3–4). Saul learned that the murderous threats he had been making and carrying out weren’t just against people—they were against Jesus himself (Acts 9:5). Jesus then directed Saul to get up and go into Damascus and there he would be told what he must do (Acts 9:6). 7. “The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone” (Acts 9:7). These men were likely Levite guards, sent with Saul to arrest and bring back captive Christians. They heard the sound of a voice, but they did not understand what Jesus said. When Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, he was blind. He had to be led by the hand into Damascus. This condition continued for three days during which Saul did not eat or drink anything (Acts 9:8–9). Saul was crushed. He had thought his persecution of Christians was doing a great service to God. Instead, Saul had been persecuting God’s only Son. 8. “In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias” (Acts 9:10). The Lord called to him in a vision and told him to “go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight” (Acts 9:11–12). But Ananias didn’t want to go. He had heard about Saul and his persecution of Christians (Acts 9:13–14). “But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:15–16). Jesus’ command must have been very puzzling to Ananias. Why would the Lord want to use someone who so hated his followers? 9. But Ananias carried out the Lord’s command. He went to the house where Saul was. “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 you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 9:17). Note the way Ananias addressed Saul: as his “brother.” This was quite a sign of forgiveness and fellowship. “Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized” (Acts 9:18). At his Baptism, Saul received the Holy Spirit. Because Saul had seen Jesus on the Damascus road, he was now an apostle. He had seen the risen Christ and was sent to proclaim

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his name. 10.Saul would become known as Paul. (Acts 13:9). The name Saul reflects his Jewish background while Paul is a Roman name that suited him well in his ministry to the Gentiles. Saul led the persecution against believers in Jerusalem. Then he decided to go to Damascus and arrest any believers he could find there. While he was on his way, Jesus spoke to him and called him to faith. Saul, also known as Paul, then became one of Jesus’ most powerful witnesses and missionaries.

PRESENTING THE LESSON

OPENING Say Do In the name of God the Father, Lift hands above head. In the name of God the Son, Fold hands across heart. In the name of the Holy Spirit, Hold hands out palms up, with elbows bent at waist level. Praise the Lord and clap your hands. Clap hands. PRAYER: Dear Jesus, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts to make us more and more eager to tell others about You. Lead us to realize what a joy it is for us to be Your witnesses. Amen. INTRODUCING THE BIBLE STORY Activity: What's Changed? Say, Look at me and at my clothing very carefully. (Let the students do this for about 30 seconds.) Then continue, Now close your eyes while I turn around and change one thing about the way I look. Keep your eyes closed and no peeking! (Turn around and make a very subtle change to your appearance; e.g., put your hair behind your ear, untie your shoe, fold up a cuff on your pants or shirt sleeve, fold in one side of your collar.) All right, everyone! Open your eyes and look at me again. When you know what’s changed about me, raise your hand. Give the students a few moments, then call on someone with his or her hand raised and see if they can tell you what’s changed. When someone correctly identifies the change you’ve made continue, The change I just made was very small. In this lesson’s Bible story, Jesus changes someone in a very big way. Listen carefully to find out what Jesus did. READ THE BIBLE STORY Stephen was the first person who was put to death because he believed in Jesus as his Savior. After the death of Stephen, a man named Saul led the persecution against believers in Jerusalem. But he wasn’t satisfied to do this only there. He had heard that many believers were also living in the city of Damascus. So Saul got permission from the high priest to arrest any believers he found there and bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners. Then he took some men and set out for Damascus. But as Saul got close to Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around him! He fell to the ground and heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Lord, who are You?” Saul asked.

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The voice said, “I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you must do.” When Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, he couldn’t see a thing! So the men who were traveling with him took him by the hand and led him to a house in Damascus. For three days Saul remained blind. During that time he didn’t eat or drink anything. A believer named Ananias lived in Damascus. The Lord came to him in a vision and said, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man named Saul. He is praying to me. I’ve let him know that you will come and place your hands on him so that he’ll be able to see again.” But, Lord,” Ananias objected, “I have heard about this man from many people! They told me what terrible things he did to Your believers in Jerusalem. And now he has come here with the authority to arrest those who believe in You!” But the Lord told Ananias, “Go! For I have chosen this man as my special witness. He will bring my message of salvation to the Gentiles and even to their kings, as well as to the people of Israel.” Ananias went to the house where Saul was staying. He put his hands on Saul and 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. He could see again! Saul got up and was baptized. After that he ate some food to get his strength back. At once Saul went out into the city and began to preach that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior. All those who heard him were surprised, and they asked one another, “Isn’t this the man who persecuted the believers in Jerusalem? And didn’t he come here to Damascus to arrest more believers?” Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful as he used the Scriptures to show that Jesus is the promised Savior. After Saul had preached for many days, some unbelieving Jews in Damascus made a plan to kill him. They kept a close watch on the city gates, day and night, so that he could not escape. But Saul heard about their plan. So one night the believers let him down in a large basket through an opening in the city wall, and he escaped. Saul then went back to Jerusalem and tried to join the believers there. But they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe that he was really one of Jesus’ followers. Finally a believer named Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles. He explained how Saul had seen the Lord and how the Lord had spoken to him. He also told them that Saul had fearlessly preached about Jesus in Damascus. So Saul (also known as Paul) joined the believers in Jerusalem and boldly continued telling others about Jesus. God blessed Paul’s work, and he became one of the Lord’s greatest missionaries. After Stephen’s death, Saul led the persecution against the believers. Saul planned to go to Damascus and arrest believers and bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners. Saul was definitely Jesus’ enemy. On the way to Damascus, Saul saw a light from heaven. Jesus told Saul to go into the city and wait there for instructions. When Saul stood up he was blind. Three days later Ananias went to Saul, prayed for him and the scales fell off Saul's eyes. Saul was baptized. Immediately Saul began to tell others about Jesus and then he went to Jerusalem where he continued telling others about Jesus.

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REVIEWING THE BIBLE STORY STORY QUESTIONS: Ask these questions: 1. Whom did Saul see in the light? (Saul saw Jesus.) 2. What were Jesus’ plans for Saul? (Jesus would help Saul tell many people about him. He would use Saul to turn people away from the devil and to him.) If there is time... play "Show Me Saul" Help the children stand in a line which faces you. Say, I’m going to ask you some questions. After each question, show me with your face and with your body how Saul acted. After you ask each question below, give the students some time to react. 1. How did Saul act toward Christians before he traveled to Damascus? (Students should show angry faces. They can pantomime Saul putting Christians in jail.) 2. How did Saul act when the light from heaven flashed on the road to Damascus? (Students should show frightened faces. They can pantomime Saul falling to the ground.) 3. How did Saul act when he first stood up on the Damascus road after Jesus talked to him? (Students should show Saul stumbling around because he was blind and upset.) 4. How did Saul act after Ananias came to visit him and baptize him? (Students should joyful faces. Saul could now see. Students can pantomime Saul eating a meal.) CLOSING PRAYER Ask if there are any prayer requests. Heavenly Father, give us the desire to share the gospel with all people. Give our missionaries around the world

the strength to preach your Word so that many people may come to faith in Jesus as their Savior. Please continue to be with and help (insert special requests here). We pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.

Acts 7:58 A key person involved in the death Acts 8v1 After the death of Stephen, Christians of Stephen was a young man called Saul. Those in Jerusalem suffered so much that many left stoning Stephen took off their coats and left to find new places to live. Some travelled them at the feet of Saul. north to the city of Damascus.

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Acts 9. Saul went to the High Priest and asked The papers were handed to Saul and he set off for papers giving him permission to go to to Damascus, making murderous threats Damascus and arrest any belonging to ‘The about those who believed Jesus was ‘The Way’ (as Christians were known). Way’ to God.

As he got near to the city, suddenly a light "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus from heaven flashed around him and he fell whom you are persecuting,’ the voice replied. to the ground. He heard a voice: "Saul, Saul, "Now get up and go into the city, and you will why do you persecute me?" be told what you must do."

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The men traveling with Saul stood there So they led Saul by the hand into Damascus. speechless. They heard the sound but did not For three days he was blind, and did not eat see anyone. Saul got up, but when he opened or drink anything. his eyes he could see nothing.

In Damascus there was a disciple named "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, and ask for a man named Saul. He is praying." "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.

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"Lord," Ananias answered, "This man has But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! I have harmed your people in Jerusalem. And he chosen Saul to proclaim my Name not only to has come here with authority from the chief Jews but Gentiles (non-Jews) and their kings. priests to arrest all who call on Your name." I will also show him how much he must suffer for me."

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

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Immediately Saul began to preach in the Saul powerfully explained to them that Jesus synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. is the Messiah. A few days later some Jews who were against Jesus plotted to kill Saul.

They kept watch at the city gates hoping to Saul’s followers took him by night and lowered kill him. But Saul learnt of their plans. him in a basket through an opening in the wall so he could escape.

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Saul returned to Jerusalem where he tried to However Barnabas explained that Saul was join the disciples. But they were all afraid of now a Christian, and how he had preached in him, not believing that he really was a disciple. Damascus that Jesus is the Son of God. So the Apostles welcomed Saul who started speaking boldly about Jesus in Jerusalem. Pictures from Free Bible Images, https://www.freebibleimages.org/.