Long ago, there was a man named Saul. He lived in the land of Israel. Saul was very smart and knew a lot about the laws of God. But Saul did not like the people who followed Jesus. He thought they were doing the wrong thing. Saul became very angry with the followers of Jesus. He wanted to stop them from telling others about Jesus. He went to the high priest and asked for permission to travel to a city called Damascus. Saul wanted to find the followers of Jesus there and bring them back as prisoners. So Saul started his journey to Damascus with some men traveling with him. The road was long and dusty, and the sun was very bright. While Saul was walking on the road, something amazing happened. Suddenly, a bright light from heaven flashed all around him. The light was so strong that Saul fell to the ground. He was very frightened. Then Saul heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you hurting Me?” Saul was shaking with fear. He asked, “Who are You, Lord?” The voice answered, “I am Jesus, the one you are hurting. Now get up and go into the city. You will be told what you must do.” Saul stood up, but when he opened his eyes, he could not see anything. The bright light had made him blind. The men traveling with Saul were surprised and afraid. They helped Saul stand up and led him by the hand all the way to Damascus. For three days, Saul could not see. He did not eat or drink anything. He stayed in a house and prayed to God. In Damascus, there was a follower of Jesus named Ananias. Ananias loved God and obeyed Him. One day, God spoke to Ananias in a vision and said, “Ananias, go to the house where Saul is staying. Put your hands on him so he can see again.” Ananias was afraid. He said, “Lord, I have heard about this man. He hurts the followers of Jesus.” But God said, “Go. I have chosen Saul for a special work. He will tell many people about Me.” So Ananias obeyed God. He went to the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” At that moment, something like small scales fell from Saul’s eyes. Suddenly, he could see again! Saul was filled with joy. He understood that Jesus really was the Son of God. Saul was baptized, and from that day on, his life changed. He stopped hurting the followers of Jesus. Instead, he became one of them! Saul began telling everyone about Jesus. Later, his name was called Paul, and he traveled to many places teaching people about God’s love. Paul became one of the greatest helpers of Jesus in the whole world.
What Children Will Learn from Paul’s Journey: A Fresh Start: Learning that God can change anyone’s heart and give them a beautiful new beginning. Following the Light: Understanding that God’s guidance can turn our lives in a wonderful new direction. Sharing Good News: Seeing how one person’s brave change can inspire and help people all over the world.
