Saul Meets Jesus on the Road
Month 12: On Mission & Finishing Well · Bible Story
Today's Scripture
Read together: Acts 9:1-9,17-18
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest 2 and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” 5 “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything. … 17 So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,
Memory Verse
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.”— Romans 1:16 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Philippians 1–4
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 345 of 365 — Paul's joy-filled letter from prison.)The Heart of It
Saul was the last person you'd expect God to use. He hated Christians. He dragged them to prison. He was on the road to Damascus to arrest more of them. Then a light from heaven flashed brighter than the noon sun. He fell to the ground and heard a voice. "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Saul asked who it was. The answer stopped his heart. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" (). The risen Jesus was alive in heaven. And He was so joined to His people that hurting them was hurting Him. Saul stood up blind. They led him by the hand into the city. And he waited three days in the dark.
Then God sent an ordinary, frightened believer named Ananias to lay hands on his enemy. Something like scales fell from Saul's eyes. He could see again. And he was filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized (). In a single moment, the church's fiercest enemy became its greatest missionary. He is the man we'd come to know as Paul. This is the gospel's power on full display. It doesn't just improve people. It raises the spiritually dead to new life. No one is too hard, too angry, or too far gone for the grace of Jesus to reach.
Around the Table
Saul was being mean to Jesus' friends. But Jesus loved him and made his heart brand new!
Let's do it: Cover your eyes. Then open them wide and say, "Jesus, You can change anybody!"
Jesus said hurting His people was hurting Him. He is so close to those who love Him.
Let's talk: Jesus can change someone like Saul. So is there anyone we should ever give up praying for?
Saul didn't reform himself. Jesus interrupted him with grace. Then He filled him with the Spirit for the mission ahead.
Let's go deeper: Salvation is something God does to us. It is not something we earn. Why is that such good news?
💬 Conversation Starter
Who is the "least likely person" you know to follow Jesus? What would it look like to pray for them this week?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Paul's enemies couldn't deny his sudden turnaround. They had watched him drag believers to prison. Then they heard him preaching Christ. Here was a hostile insider who completely reversed course, and it cost him dearly. That is powerful evidence. The most natural explanation is that Saul really did meet the risen Jesus.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Paul never got over his conversion. He kept retelling it (, ) as proof that grace, not pedigree, makes a Christian. As a dad, it's tempting to despair. Maybe there's a hard heart in your own home, or in someone you've prayed for for years. But Saul's story preaches patience and hope. The same Lord who stopped a murderer on a dusty road still saves today. And He often works through one obedient, ordinary "Ananias" who is willing to go where God sends him. So keep praying. Keep going. You are planting in soil only the Spirit can soften.
Draws on: John Pollock, The Apostle: A Life of Paul.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, thank You that no one is too far from Your grace. Soften the hardest hearts we love. And make us bold like Ananias to go where You send us. In Jesus' name, amen."
If grace could reach Saul on that road, it can reach anyone. So I will keep praying and keep going.