Paul's conversion - JSS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note
Paul was also called Saul. He was a great tormentor and persecutor of members of the early church. He was very popular for his intimidation and murderous threats against the disciples of Jesus. Paul was his Roman name and Saul his Jewish name. At that time the Roman who ruled over Palestine as part of the Roman empires allowed foreigners to buy Roman citizenship, was the ring leader that led the Jews to stone Stephen to death. Immediately Stephen died, there was mass persecution against the early church in Jerusalem. Many of the Christians were killed or dragging many Christians from their homes to prison.
Some of those who survived the persecution fled the places in Judea and Samaria. After Paul had persecuted the Christians in Jerusalem, he heard that many of them had fled Jerusalem to places like Damascus, in faraway Syria. He also heard that the Christians had settled down in Damascus and made many converts and built their own churches. Paul who wanted to stamp out Christians was not happy with the success of the Christians in Damascus. Therefore, he went to the high priest and obtained permission to go to Damascus so that he could arrest the Christians there and bring them to Jerusalem for punishment. The High priest was very happy and gave Paul a letter of introduction to the Synagogues in Damascus. Paul left for Damascus the following day in the company of his colleagues to carry out his plans against the Christians. As he got near to the entry of Damascus in the afternoon, something strange happened to him that was to change his entire life for the better.
As Paul rode on his horse, a bright light from heaven flashed down on him. This strong light blinded him and he fell to the ground. He then heard the voice of the risen Christ speaking to him, “Saul, Saul” why do you persecute me?” looking up, Paul asked, “who are you, Lord?” and, the voice replied “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” Jesus told Paul to rise and enter the city in Damascus where he will be told what to do.
The companions of Paul were silent and afraid because they heard the voice speaking, but didn’t see anyone. When Saul got up from the ground, he could not see, for the light from heaven had blinded him. His companions led him into the city of Damascus, he remained in the city for three days without food and water.
The lord appeared to one of the Christians in Damascus called Ananias, he said to him, “rise and go to the street called Straight and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold he is praying and he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight” but Ananias said “ Lord, I have heard from many about this man how much evil he has done to thy saints in Jerusalem and here he has authority from the chief priest to bind all those who call upon thy name” but the Lord said to him: “go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel, for I will show him much.
He must suffer for the sake of my name” so Ananias went to the house of Judas and found Saul. He laid his hands upon him and said. “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately, something like scales fell from his eyes and Saul regained his sight. He rose and was baptized, and he took food and he was strengthened. Immediately Saul was converted to Christianity, he started preaching to the Jews in Damascus about Jesus Christ, saying that Jesus was the son of God.