In a large city called Jerusalem there lived a man named Saul. Saul was very industrious and clever, but he did not like the people who believed in Jesus. He thought they were doing something wrong and wanted to stop them. Saul was on his way to Damascus, another city, to find the followers of Jesus and take them captive.
Saul marched with his companions on the dusty road to Damascus. Suddenly, in the middle of the day, something miraculous happened: a bright light from heaven blinded Saul, much brighter than the sun. He could no longer see anything and fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul was confused and asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The voice answered, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Get up and go to town. There you will be told what to do.”
The men who were with Saul stood still. They heard the voice, but saw no one. Saul rose from the ground and opened his eyes, but he could see nothing. He was blind! So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.
In Damascus lived a follower of Jesus named Ananias. Jesus said to Ananias in a vision: “Go into the street called the straight line and ask for a man named Saul in the house of Judas. He prays, and I have shown him that you will come and lay hands on him so that he can see again.”
Ananias was worried, because he had heard that Saul was persecuting the Christians. But Jesus assured him: “Go on, for I have chosen Saul as a very special servant for my work. He will tell people about me.”
Ananias obeyed Jesus, went to Saul and laid his hands on him. He said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the way here, has sent me so that you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Immediately, scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up, was baptized, and ate something to regain his strength. Saul was a new man. He got to know Jesus better and better and later became known as Paul, who told many people about Jesus.
Message of history
Jesus can change the heart of every person and loves us, no matter what we have done. When we trust Him, He shows us the right way.
Bible passage
The story of how Paul is met by Jesus on the way to Damascus can be found in Acts 9:1-19 (Schlachter 2000):
“But Saul, who was still snorting threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him to send letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he had any [Anhänger] of this way, leads both men and women bound to Jerusalem. 3 But as he was going, it came to pass that he approached Damascus; and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” It will be difficult for you to strike against the sting. 6 And he said, trembling and terrifying, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” And the Lord [sprach] to him, “Get up and go into the city, and they will tell you what to do.” 7 But the men who traveled with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice, but saw no one. 8 Then Saul rose from the earth; but when he opened his eyes, he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. 9 And he could not see for three days, and did not eat or drink. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Here I am, Lord! 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go into the street called the straight line, and ask in the house of Judas for a man named Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he prays; 12 And he saw in a vision how a man named Ananias came in and laid his hands on him so that he might see again. 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name. 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to bear my name before nations and kings and before the children of Israel; 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17 Then Ananias went and entered the house; and he laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus, who appeared to you in the way you came, that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately the scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again in an instant; and he got up and was baptized. 19 And he took food and gained strength.”
