Our lesson this week is about how Saul obtained the crown of life and became Paul, the apostle and evangelist for Jesus.

It all started with Stephen. Do you remember we read in Acts 6:5 that Stephen was full of two things? What were they?

1.It is this word—you have to unscramble it—tifah

2.And these words—lohy stogh

Just as you know the sun is behind the dark clouds and your heart is inside your body even though you cannot see either of them, you can know God is your heavenly Father and that he cares for you even though you cannot see him.

And Stephen was filled with the Holy Ghost, or Spirit!

Which changes, or transforms, us into a beautiful creature!

And they killed him, but someone was standing by, watching. And that person was Saul.

“And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.” Acts 7:58

There is a special prophecy in the book of Daniel that involves the stoning of Stephen. As you grow up, you will see this prophecy timeline many times. We will introduce it to you today so you can see that in the time of Daniel the birth of Christ was prophesied, and the gospel going to the Gentiles was also prophesied, which occurred at the stoning of Stephen.

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people . . . Unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks . . . And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off . . . in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease . . . (Daniel 9:24-27).

Can you tell which person is Saul?

A terrible storm was brewing in Saul’s mind. He was secretly convicted that Stephen was honored by God at the time he was killed and that a glory rested on his countenance. His mind was stirred, and he went to the priests and rulers in whom he had full confidence. They convinced him Stephen was a blasphemer and that Jesus was an imposter. Now Saul turned with zeal to persecuting the Christians.

Because Saul was persecuting the Christians in Jerusalem, many Christians scattered, and Philip, one of the seven deacons, went to work for Jesus in city of Samaria. While he was there, a heavenly messenger directed him to go to Gaza. The Bible says he “arose and went” (Acts 8:27).

And while there, he met an Ethiopian of great authority who worked for Queen Candace. He was studying Isaiah while sitting in his chariot but did not understand what he read. Philip was directed to go to him and explain what he was reading.

Meanwhile, Saul decided to go to Damascus.

At midday on the last day of their journey, there suddenly shone about Saul and his men a light as bright as the sun. His companions were filled with fear as they heard a voice but saw no man speaking.

Saul understood the words, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” and “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” He realized now that in persecuting the Christians he had really been doing the work of Satan. Now he knew for a certainty that Jesus WAS the promised Messiah.

Saul was blinded by the light and remained blind for three days.

Then God sent Ananias, a disciple of Jesus living in Damascus, to Saul, who laid his hands on Saul and his sight was restored.

After Paul’s sight was restored to him and after his baptism, he started preaching in the synagogues of Damascus that Jesus was the long looked-for Messiah. The Jewish leaders were not happy, and Paul had to flee to Arabia.

But he returned to Damascus and preached boldly, and the Jews decided to kill him. They guarded the gates of the city day and night so that he could not escape. The disciples prayed and decided the only way would be to lower Paul over the city wall in a basket! But they needed a basket big enough to hold a man!

And Paul escaped to Jerusalem.

Credits: Slide 5 Emotions at FlickrSlide 22 My Aim Is True at Flickr