What did Jesus say to Saul on the road to Damascus?
While traveling to Damascus, a bright light from above flashed around him, indicating that he had reached his destination. Then he heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ As he fell to the ground, the voice continued, … It was Jesus who responded, saying, ″I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.″
What lesson did Jesus teach Saul on the road to Damascus?
The lesson is that God is the source of strength and that the human is only a vessel. When God assigns a mission to a person, he also provides that person with the necessary tools to do that assignment. Paul was given the Holy Spirit, as well as the truth of the gospel, so that he may share it with others and spread it across the world.
What was God about to do when he came to Saul?
″Go to the home of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a guy named Saul who is from Tarsus, for he is praying,″ the Lord instructed him to do. He has had a vision of a guy named Ananias coming to him and placing his hands on him in order to restore his sight.″
What did Jesus say when Paul fell off his horse?
As he neared Damascus, a halo of light from heaven appeared around him. He knew it was God’s light. As he dropped to the ground, he heard a voice say to him, ″Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?″ ″Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?″ ″How do I know who You are, Lord?″ he inquired. When the Lord addressed them, he said, ″I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.″
Why did Jesus change Saul’s name to Paul?
When he had the vision that led to his conversion on the way to Damascus, Jesus addressed him as ″Saul, Saul″ in ″the Hebrew tongue,″ according to the Book of Acts. This appears to have been Paul’s preference, as he is referred to as Paul in all other Bible books in which he is referenced, including those that he wrote himself.
What does the story of Saul teach us?
What can we take away from this narrative? It is not always the case that what is saved gets saved. As a result of Samuel’s statements to Saul, we learn that obedience is preferable to sacrifice — it is preferable to comply than to ask for forgiveness after knowingly defying the commands of one’s superior.
What is the road to Damascus moment?
The phrase ″Road to Damascus″ alludes to a life event that occurs all of a sudden. It’s a reference to the apostle Paul’s conversion to Christianity while physically on the road to Damascus from Jerusalem, which is where the phrase comes from. His previous name had been Saul, and he had been a Pharisee who had persecuted disciples of Jesus before that time.
When did God speak to Saul?
As a third-person narrative, Acts 9 presents the story as follows: While traveling to Damascus, a bright light from above flashed around him, indicating that he had reached his destination. Then he heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ As he fell to the ground, the voice continued, ″Can you tell me who you are, Lord?″ Saul was the one who inquired.
Why did God send Ananias to Saul?
A follower of Jesus in Damascus, Ananias (/nas/ AN-NY-s; Ancient Greek: v from Hebrew, Hananiah, ″favoured of the LORD″) is referenced in the book of Acts, where he is described as being sent by Jesus to restore the sight of Saul (who eventually became known as Paul the Apostle) and to…
How many times did Jesus speak to Paul?
A detailed description of Jesus’ appearance to Paul after his resurrection is provided in the Book of Acts, and Paul himself makes several allusions to the event in his letters. The consistency and timeliness of these many stories and references is remarkable.
What did the donkey say to Paul?
″Am I not your own donkey, on which you have always ridden, right up to this day?″ the donkey inquired of Balaam.Is this something I’ve been doing to you on a regular basis?″ ″No,″ he clarified.Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing on the road with his sword drawn, and he knew that he had seen the LORD.As a result, he bent low and fell on the ground facedown.
How long did it take Saul to get to Damascus?
After rising from the ground, Saul was unable to see anything even with his eyes wide open, and he had to be carried into Damascus by the hand of one of his companions. His vision was impaired and he was unable to eat or drink for three days during this time period.
What caused Saul to fall to the ground?
Saul’s life and reign are mostly documented in the Hebrew Bible, which is the most reliable source. His anointing was performed by the prophet Samuel, and he reigned from Gibeah, according to the biblical account. The fight against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, in which three of his sons were also killed, forced him to fall on his sword (committing suicide) in order to avoid captivity.
Is Paul a Greek name?
The origins and spread of a disease ″Paulus″ or ″Paullus″ comes from the Roman family name Paulus or Paullus, which comes from the Latin adjective ″little″ or ″humble.″ … Paul is a popular given name in all European languages, with some variants (e.g. English, French, Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, Italian, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, Greek, Russian, Georgian).
What was Paul’s original name?
After Jesus, Paul the Apostle, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was a Christian leader who lived from 4 BCE (maybe) in Tarsus in Cilicia to 62–64 CE in Rome. He is often regarded as the most significant figure in Christian history after Jesus, and is sometimes referred to as the ″second Jesus.″
What books of the Bible did Paul write?
Despite the fact that most scholars believe Paul actually wrote seven of the Pauline epistles (Galatians, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Romans, Philemon, Philippians, and 1 Thessalonians), four of the epistles in Paul’s name (Ephesians, First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Titus) are pseudepigraphic (Ephesians, First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Titus), and two other epi
Jesus Chooses Saul
Saul was a Roman citizen who was born in Tarsus, and he was known as Saul of Tarsus.He was a Pharisee who was well-versed in Jewish law, and he despised Christians with a vengeance.Christians were pulled from their homes and imprisoned as a result of his actions.He even stood by and watched as an enraged mob stoned Stephen to death in front of his congregation.Saul, on the other hand, was not content with simply capturing Christians in Jerusalem.
He requested that the high priest sent him to the city of Damascus so that he might hunt down and kill Christians there.The high priest agreed.When Saul was getting close to the city, a great light flashed all around him, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.His ears picked up a voice saying, ‘Saul, what are you doing tormenting me?’ ‘Can you tell me who you are?’ Saul inquired.
‘I am Jesus,’ says the respondent.’Go to Damascus and you will find out what you need to accomplish.’ Saul had gone completely blind in an instant, and he had to be guided into the city by a rogue soldier.Ananias was a devout Christian who lived in Damascus at the time of Christ.Then Jesus appeared to him in a vision and said, ″Go to the home of Judas on the street named Straight, and search for Saul.″ ‘Lord, I know everything about that man!’ Ananias said.
It appears that he is putting your disciples in prison!’ ‘Go to him,’ Jesus, however, said.’I have selected Saul to go across the world and proclaim the good news to people.’ So Ananias tracked down Saul and informed him, ″Saul, brother, Jesus has sent me to open your eyes.″ Saul was grateful.Saul was able to see well again almost immediately.
He learnt about Jesus and decided to become one of his followers.Saul, having been baptized as a Christian, began preaching in the synagogues alongside his fellow Christians after receiving his baptism.Can you image how surprised the Jews were when they saw Saul teaching people about Jesus in the streets of Jerusalem?It was pointed out that he was the same man who used to chase out Jesus’ followers in the past.In Damascus, Saul preached for three years to the people who lived in the city.The Jews despised Saul and devised a scheme to assassinate him.
- However, the brothers became aware of the scheme and assisted him in escaping.
- They placed him in a basket and hoisted him down through a hole in the city wall to safety.
- When Saul traveled to Jerusalem, he attempted to join his brothers who were already there.
- They, on the other hand, were terrified of him.
Then a gentle disciple called Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and persuaded them that Saul had undergone a genuine transformation.Saul proceeded to aggressively proclaim the good news to the church in Jerusalem, and the crowd responded enthusiastically.Later on, he was referred to as Paul.
- Jesus came into the world to rescue sinners, as the Bible says.
- ″I am the first and most important of these.″ —1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV)
Acts 9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ″Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?″
New International Version (New International Version) Then he heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ As he fell to the ground, the voice continued, New Living Translation (New Living Translation) When he fell to the ground, he heard a voice calling out to him, ″Saul!Saul!″ ″Can you tell me why you are persecuting me?″ Version standardized in English ″Saul, Saul,″ the voice spoke to him as he was falling to the earth.″Why are you persecuting me?″ the voice continued.Berean Study Bible (also known as the Berean Study Bible) As he dropped to the ground, he heard a voice say to him, ″Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?″ ″Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?″ The Literal Bible of the Bereans After he had fallen to the ground, he heard a voice speak to him, ″Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?″ He sprang to his feet and looked about.The King James Version of the Bible Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ He fell to the ground again.
New The King James Version (KJV) is a translation of the King James Bible.Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice speak to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ The New American Standard Bible is a translation of the New Testament into English.and he fell to the ground, hearing a voice cry to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ and he fell to the ground again.As he was falling to the ground, he heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ (NASB 1995).
And as he fell to the ground, he heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ (NASB 1977).The Bible with an amplification system Then he sank to the ground, hearing voices speak to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and tormenting Me?″ and he fell to the ground again.The Christian Standard Bible is a translation of the Bible in the Christian tradition.As he was falling to the ground, he heard a voice say to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ he thought.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (also known as the Holman Christian Standard Bible) Then, as he was about to hit the ground, he heard a voice call to him: ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ The American Standard Version is the version used in the United States.Saul fell to the ground, and he heard a voice speak to him, Saul, why are you persecuting me?Saul, why are you persecuting me?
The Aramaic Bible translated into plain English Upon falling to the ground, he was awakened by a voice that addressed him as follows: ″Shaul, Shaul, what are you doing to me?Trying to kick against the goads is difficult for you.″ Version in the Present Tense of the English Language When he slumped to the ground, he heard a voice calling out, ″Saul!Saul!″.″Why are you being so mean to me?″ The Bible of Douay-Rheims Then, as he was about to collapse to the ground, he heard a voice call to him: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?Translation of the Good News When he fell to the ground, he heard a voice calling out to him, ″Saul, Saul!″ ″Can you tell me why you are persecuting me?″ The International Standard Version (ISO) is a formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized He fell to the ground and heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul!
- Why are you persecuting me?″ He sank to the ground and heard a voice say, ″Saul, Saul!
- Standard Version in its literal sense Upon falling to the ground, he was awakened by a voice calling out to him, ″Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?″ The New American Bible is a translation of the New Testament into English.
- Then he heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ As he fell to the ground, the voice continued.
- NET Bible is an abbreviation for Networked Information Technology.
Then he heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ As he fell to the ground, the voice continued.Revised Standard Version (New Revised Standard Version) He dropped to the ground and heard a voice speak to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ He sank to the ground and heard the voice say, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ The New Heart English Bible is a translation of the New Heart Bible.And as he sank to the ground, he heard a voice speak to him, ″Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?″ And he fell to the ground again.
- The New Testament of Weymouth …
- as he was falling to the ground, he heard a voice say to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ and he fell to the ground.
- The English Bible for the Whole World He dropped to the ground and heard a voice speak to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ He sank to the ground and heard the voice say, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ Young’s Literal Translation of the Text as well as hearing a voice calling to him from the ground, saying, ‘Why are you persecuting me?’ after he had fallen to the ground.
- Translations in addition to the above.
- Context The Road to Damascus consists of a series of…
- 3 As Saul came closer to Damascus on his journey, a bright light from above flashed around him, illuminating him.
- 4 As he dropped to the ground, he heard a voice say to him, ″Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?″ ″Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?″ 5 ″Can you tell me who You are, Lord?″ Saul was the one who inquired.
- ″I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,″ he said, referring to himself as Jesus.
- … References to Other Sources Isaiah 6:8 (KJV) As a result of this experience, I heard the Lord say: ″Whom should I send?
- ″Who will come to our aid?″ Then I said, ″Look, here I am.
- ″Send me!″ I exclaimed.
- Acts 9:5 is a verse from the book of Acts.
″Can you tell me who You are, Lord?″ Saul was the one who inquired.″I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,″ he said, referring to himself as Jesus.Acts 22:7 (KJV) When I dropped to the ground, I heard a voice speak to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ I looked about and saw no one.Acts 26:14 is a biblical passage.I was on the ground when I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ We all dropped to the ground.
- Fighting against the goads is really difficult for you.’ The Scriptures are a treasure trove.
- And he fell to the ground, where he heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ (Why are you persecuting me?
- He was knocked to the ground.
- Acts 5:10 is a biblical passage.
- Then she sank to her knees at his feet and gave up the ghost; and the young men came in and discovered her dead; and they carried her out to be buried by her husband, who had been with her all through.
- 16:45 is the time in numbers.
- Get you out from amid this throng so that I can swallow them in a matter of seconds.
- After that, they sank on their knees.
- John 18:6 (KJV) Immediately following his declaration that he was the one, they began to fall backward and to the earth.
- Saul.
- Genesis 3:9 (KJV) And the LORD God reached out to Adam, saying, ″Where have you gone?″ (Where have you gone?
- Genesis 16:8 is a biblical verse that states that God created man in his own image.
- And he inquired, ″Hagar, Sarai’s maid, from whence hast thou come?″ and where do you intend to go?
- Her words were ″I fled from the sight of my mistress Sarai.″ Genesis 22:11 is an example of a figurative language.
After then, an angel of the LORD appeared to him from the heavenly realm and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he replied, ″Here am I.why.″ Acts 22:7,8 (KJV) …And as I fell to the ground, I heard a voice speak to me, ″Why are you persecuting me, Saul?″ I looked about and saw no one.Acts 26:14,15 (KJV) And after we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice calling to me in the Hebrew language, asking, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And I turned to see who it was.Fighting off the pricks is a difficult task for thee….Isaiah 63:9 (KJV) When they were in their greatest distress, he was struck down, and the angel of his presence came to their rescue: in his love and compassion, he redeemed them; and he bore them, carrying them throughout the ages.
(4) Saul, Saul, why dost thou torment me?- Interestingly, the Hebrew version of the Benjamite name appears only here in the original Greek and in Acts 9:17, as well as in the translations of those verses in Acts 22:27 and Acts 26:14.This is a rare occurrence.″Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth,″ he says, as if he, who took great pride in being above all things a Hebrew of the Hebrews, had heard himself claimed as such by Him who spoke from heaven and called him as Samuel had been called of old (1 Samuel 3:4-8), and had to decide whether he would resist to the end or yield, saying with Samuel, ″Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.″ As implied by the tale, the persecutor saw and heard the figure of the Son of Man, and it is to this visual presence that the Apostle alludes as a witness to him of the Resurrection later on in the letter (1Corinthians 9:1; 1Corinthians 15:8).
If we inquire as to the manner of the apparition, it is easy to assume that it was such that it had caught Stephen’s gaze.Those words of the martyr, ″I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God,″ (Acts 7:56), had seemed to the fervent zeal of the Pharisee as those of a heretic at the time of their utterance.His eyes were opened to see the Son of Man in the glory of the Father stretching forth His hand, not now, as He had done then, to receive the servant who had been faithful even unto death, but now, in response to the dying prayer of that servant, to transform the persecutor into the likeness of his victim….
– Verse 4 is a proverb.According to Lord Lytlelton and Lewin (‘Life of St.Paul,’ vol.
- 1, p.
- 48), the terms ″fell to the ground″ and ″fell to the earth″ imply that Saul was ″himself mounted, and his followers some mounted, others on foot,″ and that Saul was ″riding on the backs of his men.″ And Farrar, for a variety of other reasons, believes that Saul and his companions rode horses or mules in their journey.
- He claims that the voyage was almost a hundred and fifty miles long, with hard, poor, and hilly roads; and that Saul was traveling as the legate or as the high priest during the expedition.
- It is interesting, however, because no one language indicates that the company is riding horses, but phrases like ″falling to the earth″ and ″ground″ clearly indicate that the party is on horseback.
- While, on the other hand, the phrases ″Arise,″ ″stood mute,″ and ″lead him by the hand″ appear to indicate that he is walking rather than riding a horse.
- Lunge makes an excellent comparison between the double invocation ″Saul, Saul!″ and the comparable invocation ″Abraham, Abraham!″ ″Samuel, Samuel!″ says the narrator.
- ″Jerusalem, Jerusalem!″ shouts the crowd.
- ″Simon, Simon!″ says the narrator.
- In the Bible, this is stated in Genesis 22:11, 1 Samuel 3:10, Matthew 23:27, and Luke 22:31.
- Commentaries that run in parallel.
Greek He was knocked out.(pesn)Verb – Aorist Participle Active – Nominative Masculine – (pesn)Verb – Aorist Participle Active – Nominative Masculine – (pesn)Verb – Aorist Participle Active – Nominative Masculine – (pesn)Verb – Aorist Participle Active – Nominative Masculine – (pesn)Verb – Aorist Particip Petomai is a reduplicated and contracted form of peto; it is possibly related to SingularStrong’s 4098 in that it conveys the sense of alighting; to fall.to be able to (epi) Preposition The year is 1909, and Strong’s is the year.On the basis of, in opposition to, on the basis of, at the (tn) is an abbreviation for the Article – Accusative Feminine SingularStrong’s 3588: Accusative Feminine Singular The article is capitalized like the definite article.
- This includes all of the inflections of the feminine he as well as the neuter to; the definite article; and the.
- the ground (gn)Noun – Accusative Feminine SingularStrong’s 1093: the ground As a result of being contracted from a core term; soil; by extension an area, a solid section, or the entire terrene globe heard o (kousen) is an abbreviation for ″ocean.″ Strong’s 191: Verb – Aorist Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular Verb – Aorist Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular pass: has been heard or reported; to hear, listen, comprehend by hearing To hear is a fundamental verb.
- a person’s voice (phnn) is an abbreviation for Phnn.
- Strong’s 5456: Noun – Accusative Female SingularStrong’s 5456: Probably related to phaino in terms of the notion of revelation; a tone; and, by implication, an address, speech, or linguistic expression express yourself as follows: (legousan) Strong’s 3004:(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, etc.; I mean, mention, etc.
- (b) I address him by his given name, especially in the passage.
- (c) I inform him, command him.
- (aut) is an abbreviation for ″autumn.″ In the Dative Masculine, the personal pronoun is ″I″ or ″my.″ 3rd Person SingularStrong’s 846: he, she, it, they, them, the same, and so on.
- ″From the particle au comes the reflexive pronoun self, which is employed in the third person as well as in the other person’s sentences.″ Saul, (Saoul)Noun – Vocative Masculine SingularStrong’s 4549: Saul, (Saoul)Noun – Vocative Masculine Singular Paul’s Jewish given name is Saul, which is of Hebrew origin.
- A native of Hebrew origin, Saul is the Jewish name for Paul.4549:Of Strong’s Hebrew origin; Saul is the Jewish name for Paul.
What is the reason?(ti)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun – Adjective Neuter 5101 from SingularStrong: who, which, what, and why.It is most likely emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, such as who, which, or what; and a question mark.Persecute (dikeis) is what you do, right?The present indicative active is used in the second person.
SingularStrong’s 1377 is as follows: I persecute because I want to seek something.A shortened version of the basic verb dio, which means to pursue and, by extension, to persecute.″What about me?″ (me) A personal or possessive pronoun that is accusative in nature.1st Person Pronoun SingularStrong’s 1473:I, the first-person pronoun, is a good example of this.An I main pronoun that refers to the first person singular.
- Return to the previous page Attacking Cruelly Earth Fallen Falling Fell Ground Heard Me Persecute Persecutest Persecuting Saul Attacking Cruelly Earth Fallen Falling Fell Ground Voice Continue to Next Page Attacking Cruelly Earth Fallen Falling Fell Ground Heard Me Persecute Persecutest Persecuting Saul Attacking Cruelly Earth Fallen Falling Fell Ground VoiceLinks Acts 9:4 NIVActs 9:4 NLTActs 9:4 ESVActs 9:4 NASBActs 9:4 KJVActs 9:4 NIVActs 9:4 NLTActs 9:4 ESVActs 9:4 NASBActs 9:4 KJVActs 9:4 NIVActs 9:4 NLTActs 9:4 NLTActs 9:4 NLTActs 9:4 NLTActs 9: BibleApps.com Acts 9:4 Biblia Paralela (The Paraclete’s Bible) Acts 9:4 (Chinese Version) Acts 9:4 (French Version) Acts 9:4 in the Catholic Bible.
- Apostles of the New Testament: Acts 9:4 (KJV) He heard something as he dropped to the ground (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Review it
Tell the tale up to this point, referencing the cards from previous days throughout the plot to do so. Now, take a look at the next card…
Watch it
Read it
In Acts 9:1-5, we see that While this was happening, Saul continued to issue harsh threats of death on the disciples of the Lord.He proceeded to the High Priest and requested letters of introduction to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he were to come across any followers of the Way of the Lord in Damascus, he would be able to apprehend them, both men and women, and extradite them to Jerusalem.Suddenly, as Saul was getting closer to the city of Damascus, a bright light from the sky flashed around him.When he fell to the ground, he heard a voice calling out to him, ″Saul, Saul!″ ″Can you tell me why you are persecuting me?″ ″Can you tell me who you are, Lord?″ he inquired.It was the voice of Jesus saying, ″I am Jesus, whom you persecute.″
Quiz it
When it comes to anything or someone (a sports team, a culinary item, a person), have you ever entirely altered your mind?
As we saw in the previous session, many of the religious officials despised Jesus’ disciples, and Saul was one of those religious authorities. What new city is Saul traveling to, and why is he going there?
Saul was on his way to Damascus, Syria’s capital, to capture Christians who had gathered there. Today, Syria may be a hazardous place to be a Christian, especially for those who follow Jesus. Can you think of another place where being a Christian is a perilous proposition?
When Saul was on his journey to Damascus, he had a life-changing encounter. What exactly happened?
It was Jesus who intervened and prevented Saul from carrying out his lethal goal. What was Jesus’ response to Saul?
Despite the fact that Saul was targeting Christians. Jesus stated that he was in fact injuring him. What does this tell us about the relationship between Jesus and his followers?
The apostle Paul goes on to compose writings in which he compares the church to a body, with Jesus as the head. What does someone’s head feel like if they are injured physically? On the trip, Jesus came face to face with Saul in a striking way. What was the physical impact of this on Saul?
- Even though Saul had been blind for three days, he could now see the truth clearly for the first time. What was it that caused Saul to entirely alter his opinion about?
- Is there anything else that has changed about Saul?
Saul was transformed into Paul, and he spent the remainder of his life touring the world and sharing the gospel with everyone he encountered. At the time of his death, he was the most prominent Christian leader in history. What is it about this that is such a great surprise?
Saul would have been the least probable candidate for such a position. What does Saul’s transformation teach us about not dismissing anyone’s potential to become a disciple of Jesus?
Pray it
Take a look at the list of names of friends that we made last time.Distribute them as needed.Let us pray for them specifically.Please, God, help me.Thank you for meeting with Saul and influencing him to become a disciple of Jesus and a leader in his community.
Thank you for making it such that no one is beyond the reach of your love.I pray that you would assist my friends in their quest to know Jesus.Assist me in refusing to dismiss anyone and instead believing the best in everyone.Amen
Place it
After that, have a glance at the reverse side of your card. What exactly does it say? You are now able to insert your card into your narrative.
Improve it
To this point, we hope you have been enjoying the story. We’d love to know what you think about what’s working and what’s not working. Thanks
SAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS
ACTS 9:3-4 ACTS 9:3-4 3 On his travels, he drew close to Damascus when a beam of light from above shined around him and encircled him.4 Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice speak to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ Was Saul riding a horse or strolling along the way to Damascus at the time?Saul was riding a horse, according to some, since the trip from Jerusalem to Damascus was almost 135 miles (220 kilometers) long and he would have preferred to ride a horse in order to reach to Damascus as quickly as possible.The Bible, on the other hand, says only that Saul ″fell to the ground,″ not that he fell off a horse.Another point to note is that the men who were traveling with Saul ″stood″ (see Acts 9:7 below) speechless, which indicates that they were on foot; because a group can only travel as fast as its slowest member, the fact that Saul had companions who were on foot dispels the popular belief that Saul rode a horse to get to Damascus faster.
Moreover, if there had been even a single horse among them, it would have been far easier to mount the blinded Saul (see below) on the horse and lead it by its rein, rather than leading a blinded Saul to walk along the path.Despite this, Acts 9:8 (below) states that ″they led him by the hand and took him to Damascus.″ Saul was confronted by someone who asked, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ (See Acts 9:4) ″I am Jesus,″ says Jesus (Acts 9:5 below).Is it possible that Jesus returned for a visit before His second coming, given that He had already risen to heaven?As Saul heard Jesus, the Lord was speaking from heaven by a ″light that shined from heaven″ (Acts 9:3).
It is correct to argue that Saul was the one who persecuted Jesus?Due to the fact that Christians are referred to as ″the Body of Christ″ (1 Corinthians 12:27), when Saul persecuted Christians, he was also persecuting Jesus himself.What is the difference between then and now?It isn’t the case.
Anyone who persecutes a Christian is persecuting the Lord Jesus Christ himself.2 THE BOOK OF ACTS 9:5-6 5 Afterwards, he inquired, ″Who are You, Lord?″ Afterwards, the Lord revealed himself as follows: ″I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.Trying to kick against the goads is difficult for you.″ 6 ″Lord, what do You want me to do?″ he said, his voice shaking and his eyes wide with surprise.
As a result, the Lord spoke to him and instructed him to ″up and go into the city, and you will be informed what you are to do.″ What did Jesus mean when he said, ″It is difficult for you to kick against the goads,″ as recorded in Acts 9:5?See Kick the Goads in the Face.What do you think is so striking about the conversation between Jesus and Saul?It’s a matter of concision and effectiveness.Unlike the first encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees, there is no lengthy and intense debate here (see I Am the Light of the World).What’s the harm in trying?
- Saul acknowledged both his own faults as well as the Lordship of Jesus.
- The ″light that blazed about him″ (Acts 9:3) was not your typical source of illumination.
- His fall had been caused by an object that came ″from heaven″ (Acts 9:3) and had supernatural power, which had caused him to collapse.
- ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ Jesus asked Saul, who was perplexed as to what had recently transpired.
″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?″ Jesus asked.(See also Acts 9:4) The individuals he had been persecuting were those who believed in Jesus as their Savior.When Saul heard the words ″I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting″ (Acts 9:5), he must have felt a crushing weight lifted off his shoulders.
- He now understood that Jesus is who the Christians have claimed He is, and that he – Saul – had been involved in murder for a long time.
- It had been for a cause that he had been goading his conscience by imprisoning and killing Christian prisoners.
- ‘Did Jesus have any knowledge of this?’ When you kick against the goads, it is difficult for you (Acts 9:5).
- Saul was at a loss for what to do next, but he was certain of one thing: Jesus was Lord – ″Lord, what do You want me to do?″ he said.
- He had given them the following instruction: ″Arise and go into the city, and you will be informed what you must do.″ (Acts 9:6) (Acts 9:6).
- What is the difference between this and the dialogue Jesus has with sinners today?
- It isn’t the case.
- There are no such things as’small’ sinners and ‘big’ sinners; there are only sinners.
- If we confess our sins and acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, the conversation is over in a jiffy.
- It is only when we attempt to reject our own sins or the Lordship of Jesus that the conversation and goading become prolonged and tiresome.
- What would you say was the most memorable part of your discussion with Jesus?
″SAUL, SAUL, WHY ARE YOU PERSECUTING ME?″
ACTS 22:7-16 (Acts 22:7-16) When I dropped to the ground, a voice called out to me, saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ I was stunned.8 In response, I asked, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He introduced Himself as Jesus of Nazareth, whom I was persecuting at the time.9 And those who were with me did, in fact, see the light and become terrified, but they did not hear the voice of the One who spoke to me.10 As a result, I asked the Lord, ‘What should I do?’ So I got up and went to Damascus where I was informed all I needed to know about what I was supposed to accomplish.’ And I did.11 And because I couldn’t see because of the splendour of that light, I was brought into Damascus by the hand of those who were with me, who were also blind.
12 Then a certain Ananias came to me, a devout man according to the law, who had a high reputation among all the Jews who lived in that region, 13 and he stood up and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And it was at that very same hour that I looked up at him.″The God of our fathers has selected you to know His will, to see the Just One, and to hear the word of His lips,″ he said.″15 For you will be His testimony before all mankind of what you have seen and heard.″ 16 And now, why are you wasting your time waiting?It is time to get up and be baptized, to wash away your sins, and to confess your faith in the Lord.
Is what you’ve read above correct?See Acts 9 and Saul on the journey to Damascus for further information.What is it that Paul is referring to above?This is the story of how he encountered Jesus.
″I am presenting my own testimony,″ he says.Isn’t it true that our own testimony of how we came to know Jesus is personal?It is, but it is not protected by confidentiality.
Who should be informed about one’s own personal testimony?’Always be prepared to make a defense to anybody who asks you to give them a reason for the hope that you have in you.Do so with humility and fear,’ says the Bible (1 Peter 3:15).Every Christian has the honor, the responsibility, and the delight of telling others about Jesus and how we came to know Him.What was your first encounter with Jesus?
God Made Saul Blind for Three Days
For three days, Saul was completely blind.When he opened his eyes again, he realized that nothing seemed the same to him anymore, both physically and metaphorically.Meanwhile, Saul continued to inhale terrible threats against the Lord’s followers from his mouth.After that, he went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he came across any members of the Way there, whether men or women, he might detain them and bring them as captives back to Jerusalem.In the middle of his journey, as he reached Damascus, suddenly a halo of light from heaven appeared around him.
″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ he heard a voice say to him as he slumped to the ground.5 ″Can you tell me who you are, Lord?″ Saul inquired.It was Jesus who responded, saying, ″I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.″ 6 ″Now get up and walk into the city, and you will be taught what you must do,″ the leader says.Despite hearing the scream but not seeing anyone, the guys riding with Saul were dumbfounded as they stood there.
8 Saul pushed himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he couldn’t see anything.As a result, they took his hand and brought him into Damascus.9 He was blind for three days and didn’t eat or drink anything throughout that time.10 There was a disciple named Ananias who lived in Damascus.
A vision of the Lord appeared to him, and he heard the words ″Ananias!″ ″Yes, Lord,″ he said in response.11 The Lord instructed him, ″Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is currently praying there.″ 12 He has seen a vision of a guy named Ananias coming to him and placing his hands on him in order to restore his sight.″ 12 Then Ananias said, ″Lord, I’ve heard numerous rumors about this guy and all the evil he’s done to your holy people in Jerusalem.14 And he’s come here with authorization from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your name.″ 15 But the Lord told Ananias to ″Go!
″ This man has been selected by God to declare my name to the Gentiles and their rulers, as well as to the people of Israel.16 I will demonstrate to him how much he must suffer in order to proclaim my name.″ 17 Then Ananias went to the home and walked in via the door.″Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who came to you on the road as you were traveling here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit,″ he added, placing his hands on Saul’s shoulders.18 Instantaneously, something that looked like scales dropped from Saul’s eyes, and he was able to see well again.He climbed to his feet and was baptized, and after consuming some food, he was able to restore his vigor.Acts 9:1-18 (New International Version) Today’s technology allows those who have previously been blind or visually impaired to experience sight for the first time, and they are completely taken aback during the first few minutes of their newfound capacity.
- They have a tough time diverting their gaze away from the sight that we take for granted.
- When I understand this, I’m left wondering what it was like for Saul when ″something like scales dropped from his eyes, and he was able to see once more.″ I imagine that the colors would have been so vibrant to him that he would have been unable to believe that he had previously overlooked them.
- During this chapter of Acts, Saul undergoes a searing transformation, transitioning from being a persecutor of the disciples to being filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Similar to the plot of Shakespeare’s ″King Lear,″ corporeal blindness leads to spiritual knowledge in this story.
He begins by becoming blind to the Word in a figurative sense.When his physical sight is taken away, he has a spiritual experience.When Saul’s sight is restored once more, he gains a fresh perspective on the world around him.
- It wasn’t all for naught, anyway, despite his former circumstances.
- ″You are my chosen tool to declare my name to the Gentiles and their monarchs, as well as to the people of Israel,″ God says to Ananias.
- Because this former opponent of the Gentiles has been led to know God, his witness to his faith and his message to them are all the more powerful as a result of this transformation.
- Disabilities and setbacks can be opportunities for the Lord to reveal fresh and great things to you!
- All of the following words of encouragement from your sister in Christ: Gloria (they/them/theirs) is a pronoun that means ″they/them/theirs.″ I’m an artist-activist, writer, and decolonizer who chooses to live a life of voluntary simplicity and valued community.
- ’20 graduate of Wellesley College View all of Gloria Sun’s (Gloria Sun) blog entries.
Acts of the Apostles 9
While heading to Damascus and shortly before arriving in the city, a halo of light from heaven appeared all around him, as if it were a beacon from above.He was about to fall to the ground when he heard a voice exclaim, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ He looked about and saw no one.″″Who are you, Lord?″ he inquired, to which the voice responded, ″I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me.″ As soon as you get up, head towards the city, where you will be instructed on what you must accomplish.″ The men accompanying Saul stood there stunned, for despite the fact that they had heard the voice, they were unable to see anybody.After rising from the ground, Saul was unable to see anything even with his eyes wide open, and he had to be carried into Damascus by the hand of one of his companions.His vision was impaired and he was unable to eat or drink for three days during this time period.
Acts of the Apostles22
Please listen carefully to what I have to say in behalf of myself, my brothers and fathers.″ When they learned he was speaking in Hebrew, the stillness became even more deafening than it had been previously.″″I am a Jew,″ Paul explained, adding that he was born in Tarsus, Cilicia.I grew up in this city and consider it my home.I studied under Gamaliel and learned how to adhere to the Law of our forefathers to the letter of the law.In fact, I was filled with the same sense of responsibility toward God that you are now.
I even persecuted this Way to the point of death, and I put women and men alike to jail in chains, as the high priest and the entire council of elders will attest, for they even sent me messages to their brethren in Damascus via me.When I started out, I had the purpose of bringing captives back to Jerusalem for punishment from wherever they had been taken.I was halfway through that voyage, and I was ready to arrive in Damascus, when a dazzling light from above suddenly shined around me about midday.When I dropped to the ground, I heard a voice exclaim, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I looked about and saw no one.
‘Who are you, Lord?’ I inquired in response.’I am Jesus the Nazarene,’ he declared to me, and he accused me of being a persecutor of him.The individuals who were with me saw the light, but they were unable to hear his voice as he addressed me.’What am I supposed to do, Lord?’ I asked.
Standing up, go into Damascus, and there you will be informed what you have been appointed to perform,’ the Lord said.’ As a result of the bright light, I had become completely blind, and my comrades had to drag me to Damascus by the hand.″
Acts of the Apostles27. 12-18
″On one of these expeditions, Your Majesty, I was on my way to Damascus, armed with full powers and a commission from the senior priests, when, around midday, while I was on my way, I saw a light brighter than the sun fall down from heaven.Around myself and my fellow tourists, it gleamed brightly and gloriously.″Saul, Saul,″ a voice said to me in Hebrew as we all fell to the ground.″Why are you tormenting me?″ I wondered.’It must be difficult for you to be kicking against the goad in this manner.’ Then I asked, ″Who are you, Lord?″ I mean, who are you?
″I am Jesus, and you are the one who is persecuting me,″ the Lord said.Stand up, however, for I have come to you for this specific reason: in order to appoint you as my servant and a witness to this vision in which you have seen me, as well as to additional visions in which I will appear to you in the future.I will deliver you from the people and the pagans, to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, from Satan’s dominion to God’s dominion, and receive, through faith in me, forgiveness of their sins and a share in the inheritance of the Sanctified,’ says the Lord.After then, King Agrippa, I was powerless to defy the divine vision that had appeared to me.
In fact, I began preaching in Damascus first, then in Jerusalem and across Judaea’s countryside, as well as to the pagans,″ says the apostle Paul.We can deduce the following from these writings, which are all attributed to Paul: -Paul seen something and heard something.However, his colleagues did not see the light, but they did hear the voice.-His colleagues were aware of the light but were unable to hear the voice.
-Paul was temporarily blinded as a result of the incident, but his colleagues were not affected.
What Do You Know about the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle?
This year, on January 25, we commemorate the Feast of Saint Paul the Apostle’s Conversion to Catholicism.His profound turnaround is a powerful demonstration of the amazing redeeming power of the Gospel in the lives of those who believe in it.Because of his religious beliefs, he had persecuted several Christians, including Stephen, who was the first martyr for the Christian faith.Following his experience with Christ, on the other hand, he transformed into an irresistible force for the kingdom of God.
Paul’s Conversion to Christianity
Saul was ″breathing violent threats against the followers of the Lord″ one day, so he decided to travel down to Damascus to see if he could discover any proof that would allow him to arrest the Christians who had gathered there (Acts 9).God, on the other hand, had different plans for him: As he neared Damascus on his journey, he was startled by a burst of light from the sky that surrounded him.Then he heard a voice call to him, ″Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?″ As he fell to the ground, the voice continued.″Can I ask who you are, sir?″ he inquired.When asked who he was, the reply was, ″I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.″ Take a deep breath and head into the city, where you will be instructed on what you must accomplish.″ The men who were riding with him were stunned to silence because they heard a voice but couldn’t see who it belonged to.
Despite his efforts, Saul was unable to see anything after rising from the ground.As a result, they took his hand and escorted him to Damascus.For three days, he was unable to see and was unable to eat or drink anything.In Acts 9:3-9, the Bible says Following this occurrence, God spoke to a Christian called Ananias, instructing him to track down Saul, lay hands on him, and restore his sight to him.
Ananias was hesitant at first because he was aware of Saul’s reputation of persecuting Christians.However, Ananias eventually agreed.God, on the other hand, pressed him, saying, ″Go, for this man has been chosen by me to bear my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites″ (Acts 9:15).He then followed God’s instructions, restoring Saul’s sight – as well as baptizing him.
Saul then began preaching the gospel throughout Damascus and the surrounding area, marking the beginning of a life of committed service.
Did God Change Saul’s Name to Paul?
It is widely believed that God changed Saul’s name after his conversion — and that the name ″Saul″ alludes to the persecutor, while the name ″Paul″ refers to the transformed Christian man.After his conversion, Ananias refers to him as Saul in Acts 9:17, indicating that he has changed his name.When the Holy Spirit greets him as Saul later in Acts 13:2, it is just before he goes out on his first missionary trip.In fact, following his conversion, he is referred to as Saul 11 times in the Bible.It is in Acts 13:13 that the gospel author Luke first refers to him as Paul, which is, in reality, the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name ″Saul,″ when he sets out from Jerusalem.
What Was Special about Paul’s Ministry?
Paul would go on to have a huge impact on the early Christian communities of the Mediterranean, traversing the region and penning innumerable letters of spiritual instruction and insight.It is Paul’s ministry that distinguishes it from the other apostles since he preaches the gospel to both Gentiles and Jews at the same time.Traditionally, he is credited with writing 13 books in the New Testament, which is more than any other biblical author.Saint Paul the Apostle is depicted in the Basilica in several places, including the South Entrance’s East Buttress, the Mary Memorial Altar, the Good Shepherd Chapel, the West Transept mosaic ″The Second Coming,″ and the East Apse ceiling in the Crypt Church, among other places.
Sources:
The Way of Saints, written by Tim Cowan Butler’s Lives of the Saints is a collection of biographies of saints (ed. by Bernard Bangley)
Light a Candle at the Basilica
We would like to welcome you to light a candle in the Basilica today in honor of St. Paul. Around the Upper Church and Lower Crypt level of the National Shrine, vigil lights are lit in chapels throughout the building. In each candle, we see a symbol of the supplicants’ faith and the intensity of their prayers, which are entrusted to the loving intercession of the Blessed Mother.
Saul
It is written in the Hebrew Bible that Saul reigned as the first king of Israel around the 11th century BCE.
Who Was Saul?
During his rule from around 1020 to 1000 BCE, Saul (Hebrew Sha’ul) is referred to as the first king of Israel in the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Old Testament by Christians).As a king, according to the Bible, Saul marshaled armed troops to combat the Ammonites, Edomites, Moabites, Amalekites, and Philistines, among other enemies.According to one story of Saul’s death, he committed suicide after a failed battle against the Philistines about the year 1000.David, a once esteemed member of Saul’s court who had become a competitor, finally replaced him as the king’s successor.Although there are no non-biblical sources that record Saul’s life, several archeological findings have provided evidence that some portions of his rule were accurate.
Early Life
The precise date of Saul’s birth is unclear. The age of 30 at the time of his accession to the throne was around 1020 BCE, which means he was born in 1050 BCE. He belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, which was located in the north.
King of Israel
The story of Saul’s rise to the throne of Israel is told in three distinct ways in the Hebrew Scriptures.In one, Saul is anointed as king by the judge Samuel; Saul’s noteworthy height serves as a selling point for the story.The Israelites seek a monarch who can unify disparate tribes while also confronting foreign challenges, and Saul is the one who is selected by lot in one instance.The third account connects Saul’s selection to his successful deliverance of the town of Jabesh-Gilead from the Ammonites, who had besieged it.Some people believe that the third narrative is the most credible.
Having military prowess may have aided Saul in his rise to power, and it may also have contributed to his subsequent victories against the Philistines.It’s possible that Mt.Ephraim, Benjamin, and Gilead were all part of the little kingdom that Saul governed.Saul’s reign as king of Israel is usually considered to have lasted around 20 years, from approximately 1020 to 1000 BCE.
The Hebrew text of the Bible, on the other hand, claims that Saul became king at the age of one and governed for two years, which is clearly implausible given his age.Some early Greek translations of the Bible claim that Saul was 30 years old when he rose to power.This is not supported by historical evidence.It was once assumed that Saul would be followed by his youngest and only remaining son, Ishbaal (also spelt as Ishbaal’al and also known as Ishbosheth).
The death of Ishbaal resulted in David assuming leadership of his kingdom.
Achievements
Despite the fact that the Bible claims that Saul had flaws such as excessive envy of David during his reign, as Israel’s first king, Saul was successful in bringing the many tribes of Israel closer together and in achieving multiple triumphs over Israel’s adversaries.In addition, the united kingdom that Saul built was later controlled by the revered leaders David and Solomon, who are both remembered for their achievements.
Saul and David
In Samuel’s proclamation, God declared that Saul was no longer in God’s favor, and David was anointed as the future king.There are several distinct versions of the story of Saul and David’s early connection.According to one of the stories, Saul initially invited David to his court because his musical ability would be able to comfort Saul if he were to be plagued by a ″evil spirit.″ In another instance, David’s military prowess served as the means through which he was introduced to Saul.Triumphs such as David’s reported victory over Goliath stoked Saul’s resentment for David.In spite of David’s marriage to Saul’s daughter Michal and his relationship with Saul’s son Jonathan, he continued to have this sentiment.
After Saul made the decision to assassinate David, the younger man sought refuge with the Philistines.
Death
Saul perished on Mount Gilboa in the year 1000 BCE.According to the Bible, Saul went to a witch in order to find out what would happen to him before a crucial battle with the Philistines.The witch conjured the soul of the dead Samuel, who appeared to Saul and warned him that he and his sons would be defeated and killed.When Saul was fighting the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, according to 1 Samuel, he opted to fall on his sword rather than be captured by the enemy.
Questioning Saul’s Existence
The Bible contains information concerning Saul’s life and reign, yet the Bible’s text was not written down until many years after Saul was said to have lived and reigned on the earth.There are no additional documents that support his existence, and opinions on the reliability of the Bible differ.According to some researchers, it contains historical accounts, while others believe there are elements of historical material to be discovered, and yet others believe the tales are more literary than true in nature.Despite this, there is evidence that certain portions of Saul’s life were true.A ″rude fortification″ at Tell el-Ful (biblical Gibeah) has been discovered, and it has been related to the biblical figure Saul.
In 2019, an archeological team claimed to have uncovered the biblical city of Ziklag, which is believed to be the location where David fled from an envious and bloodthirsty Saul in order to avoid capture.Furthermore, the finding of a stone with the words ″House of David″ etched on it provided further evidence of the existence of Saul’s successor David, albeit this interpretation of the inscription is not conclusively established.
Fact Check
The Bible contains information concerning Saul’s life and reign, although the Bible’s text was not written down until many years after Saul was said to have lived and reigned in the first place.In addition, no other documents have confirmed his existence, and opinions on the Bible’s veracity are divided.In the opinion of some researchers, it contains historical accounts, while others believe there are fragments of historical material to be discovered, and yet others believe the tales are more literary than true in nature.Some elements of Saul’s life, however, are supported by evidence.A ″rude fortification″ at Tell el-Ful (biblical Gibeah) has been discovered, and it has been related to the legendary King Saul.
As recently as 2019, a group of archaeologists claimed to have uncovered the biblical city of Ziklag, which is said to have been where David fled from an envious and homicidal Saul.Furthermore, the finding of a stone with the words ″House of David″ etched on it provided further evidence of the existence of Saul’s successor David, albeit this interpretation of the inscription is not conclusive.
Saul’s Conversion
- ″Saul’s Conversion″ is a play about Saul’s conversion.
- Friend, November 1999, page 39 Saul was born in Tarsus, a coastal city on the Mediterranean Sea that is now part of Turkey, about the time of Christ.
- He was a Jew, and as he grew older, he became more dedicated to his studies of the Scripture.
- The Jewish officials gave Saul permission to persecute and imprison Christians when the Savior died, so he began to do so shortly afterward.
- He claimed that they were preaching incorrect theology and that this was causing many Jews to turn away from the true path of salvation.
- As well as this, Saul gained authorization from the high priest in Jerusalem to travel to Damascus, which was 130 miles (208 kilometers) away, to arrest anybody who was preaching about Jesus Christ in the synagogues there.
- “ And as he traveled, he drew close to Damascus, as follows: ″And he fell to the ground, and he heard a voice saying vnto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?″ ″And he fell to the ground, and he heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?″ And he said, ″Who are you, Lord?″ he said.
I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, replied the Lord….″ Lord, what do you want me to do?he said, his voice shaking as his face flushed with surprise.
And the Lord said to him, ″Arise, and go into the city, and it will be told thee what thou must do.″ And he did as the Lord instructed.(See Acts 9:3–6 for further information.) When Saul awakened, he discovered that he was blind.Those accompanying Saul brought him to Damascus, where he was taken to the home of a man named Judas.
Saul sat there for three days, not eating or drinking anything.He prayed for guidance in figuring out what the Lord intended him to do in this situation.A Christian missionary called Ananias had a vision that he should track down Saul and offer him a priestly blessing in order to restore his sight.Being aware that Saul had persecuted and imprisoned many Saints in Jerusalem, Ananias was concerned, but the Lord reassured him that Saul had changed his ways.Ananias tracked down Saul and bestowed the benediction on him.″He immediately received sight, arose, and was baptized,″ the story goes.
… ″And immediately after that, he began preaching Christ in the synagogues, proclaiming that he is the Son of God.″ (See Acts 9:18 and 20.) Due to Saul’s prayer to know the Lord’s will and his obedience after being blinded, he was able to have his sight restored, as well as learn about and accept the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.Since then, he has been referred to as Paul, and he has devoted his life to teaching and preaching the Savior and His message.
Instructions
Color the flannel-board figures before mounting them on a heavy-weight piece of paper. Cut these out and use them to recreate the narrative of Paul’s conversion, as well as to talk about how the gospel has benefited your own life.
Cornelius the Centurion – Wikipedia
SaintCornelius the Centurion | |
---|---|
Peter Baptizing the Centurion Cornelius, by Francesco Trevisani, 1709 | |
The First Convert | |
Born | unknown |
Died | unknown |
Venerated in | Roman CatholicismEastern Orthodox ChurchAnglican Communion |
Feast | 20 October, 2 February, 7 February, 13 September |
Attributes | Roman military garb |
- Cornelius (Greek: o, romanized: Kornélios; Latin: Cornelius) was a Roman centurion who is regarded by Christians as the first Gentile to convert to Christianity, according to the account in the Book of Acts of the Apostles.
- Cornelius was a centurion in the Roman army (see Ethiopian eunuch for the competing t