I Can Repent

Lesson text: Luke 13:3; Mark 1:15; Acts 9:1-22; 22:16

Memory Verse: Mark 1:15

There once was a young man named Saul. He hated Christians. In fact, he hated them so
much that he tracked them down and had them thrown into jail. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death. Saul was there overseeing the whole thing.

One day, Saul was on his way to a city named Damascus so that he could search and capture more Christians. As we learned in our last lesson, when someone was arrested, they were usually beaten and whipped before going to jail. Saul knew this. He wanted Christians beaten. While on his journey, a bright light came from nowhere and blinded Saul! He fell to the ground and heard a voice ask, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” To persecute is to constantly torture someone who has done nothing to deserve it.

Saul was very religious and knew that the voice was not the voice of a common ordinary man. So he asked, “Who are you, Lord?” And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!” It was at that point and time that Saul immediately realized that he had been wrong. But he didn’t know what to do. So, he asked Jesus what He wanted him to do. Jesus told him to go into the city, and someone would tell him what to do.

Saul was still blind from the bright light, so the people who had come with him to hurt Christians led him into the city. He stayed with a man named Judas and prayed for three days!

Finally, Jesus sent a man named Ananias to preach to Saul and tell him what he must do. At that particular time, Saul received his sight and could see again! He arose, was baptized, had something to eat, and began preaching that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!

So we learn that Saul repented. To repent means to change directions and do better. Saul changed from hurting Christians to helping them! From that day forward, he preached about Jesus! Saul also came to be known as Paul.

True or False

________ 1. Saul always believed in Jesus.
________ 2. Saul was riding to Damascus to arrest Christians.
________ 3. Saul was riding alone.
________ 4. Jesus spoke to Saul through a very bright light.
________ 5. Phillip went to Saul and told him what to do.
________ 6. Saul was told to be baptized.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Saul was on his way to ______________ to arrest Christians.
2. Jesus said I am Jesus, the one you are ________________.
3. ____________ came and told Saul to be baptized.
4. Saul was praying for __________ days.
5. Saul’s name was changed to ____________.

What do the Words Mean?

1. Persecute____________________________________________________
2. Repent______________________________________________________
3. Preaching___________________________________________________
4. Martyr______________________________________________________

Discussion Questions

1. Saul realized that he was doing things wrong. He changed his ways and repented. Why is it so hard for someone to stop doing the wrong things and start doing the right things?

2. Saul thought he was doing what God wanted him to do by persecuting Christians. Should we follow what we THINK God wants from us, or should we follow the Bible so we can KNOW what God wants from us? Can you think of things that some people THINK are pleasing to God, but are not?

Solve the Riddles

1. I was on a journey into Damascus when I was blinded and could not see for three days. I spent those three days praying before someone told me to be baptized. Who am I? _____________________

2. I was told to go preach to a man who had been hurting Christians. I went and told him about Jesus and told him to be baptized. Who am I? ________________

3. I lived in Damascus. I allowed a man who was stricken blind to stay in my house. Another man came to my house and helped the blind man to see. Who am I? _______________

4. I spoke to Saul through a bright light. I told him he was persecuting me. I also sent Ananias to preach to him about me. Who am I? _________________

5. Saul was persecuting us. In fact, he was planning on coming to Damascus so that he could arrest more of us. Who are we? _____________________