Where was Saul going?

To Damascus, to bind any Christians he found.

Free Bible lesson for kids · The Gospel Spreads

Saul Meets Jesus

Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians when a light from heaven shone around him and Jesus spoke to him. Saul was blind for three days until Ananias came, and then he was baptized.

Teach this lesson: film, sheets and guide Print the coloring page

Bible passage: Acts 9:1–19 · Acts 22:6–16
Big idea: Jesus can change anyone’s heart.
Memory verse: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
Ages: Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
Time: About 45 minutes
Included, free: Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game

The story

Saul kept making threats against the Lord’s disciples (Acts 9:1). He was going to Damascus to arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem (Acts 9:2). Near the city, about noon, a great light from heaven shone around him (Acts 22:6). He fell to the ground and heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Saul asked, “Who art thou, Lord?” The answer came: “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest” (Acts 9:4–5).

Saul got up blind, so the men with him led him into Damascus (Acts 9:8). For three days he did not eat or drink (Acts 9:9). Then the Lord sent a disciple named Ananias, calling Saul “a chosen vessel” to carry His name to the Gentiles (Acts 9:10–15). Ananias put his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul” (Acts 9:17). Something like scales fell from his eyes; he could see, and he was baptized (Acts 9:18).

Read it in the Bible: Acts 9:1–19 (KJV)

¹And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, ²And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. ³And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: ⁴And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ⁵And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. ⁶And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. ⁷And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. ⁸And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. ⁹And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. ¹⁰And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. ¹¹And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, ¹²And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. ¹³Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: ¹⁴And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. ¹⁵But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: ¹⁶For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. ¹⁷And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. ¹⁹And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

Read it in the Bible: Acts 22:6–16 (KJV)

⁶And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. ⁷And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ⁸And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. ⁹And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. ¹⁰And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. ¹¹And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. ¹²And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, ¹³Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. ¹⁴And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. ¹⁵For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. ¹⁶And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Questions to ask

Where was Saul going?
To Damascus, to bind any Christians he found.
What did Jesus say to him?
“Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”
Who did God send to help Saul see again?
A disciple named Ananias.

What this story teaches

Jesus is alive and spoke to Saul from heaven (Acts 9:3–5).
When people hurt Christians, Jesus says they are hurting Him (Acts 9:4–5).
A new heart asks, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6).
Jesus chose Saul, who had hurt His people, to serve Him (Acts 9:13–15).
God uses ordinary believers to welcome new believers (Acts 9:17).

Jesus Saves Sinners

Saul once fought against Jesus, but Jesus saved him. Later Saul, also called Paul, wrote that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

1 Timothy 1:15

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 min	Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Pray for someone who does not know Jesus yet.
10 min	The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next.
10 min	Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus can change anyone’s heart.” What does that mean for us?
5 min	Memory verse. Say 2 Corinthians 5:17 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone.
10 min	Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions).
5 min	Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week.

Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.

Game time

For kids · game · indoors or out · about 8 minutes

Opposite Day

You need: Nothing

The leader calls actions and the kids do the opposite: “Sit down!” means stand up; “Be loud!” means whisper.
Anyone who gets it wrong helps lead.
End by asking: who turned completely around in today’s story?

Saul was going one way, against Jesus. When Jesus met him, Saul turned all the way around.

For youth group · game · indoors · about 15 minutes

Before and After

You need: Baby photos of youth leaders (collected ahead of time), a screen or printouts

Show the baby photos one at a time.
Teams guess which leader each one is.
Then a leader shares how Jesus changed their life.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). God can change anyone.

Pray

Pray for someone who does not know Jesus yet.