Acts 22: Paul Tells His Story

Standing on the stairs, Paul told the crowd how he had once persecuted the Way, how a great light shone around him on the road to Damascus, and how Jesus spoke to him. Ananias restored his sight and told him he would be a witness for God to all people of what he had seen and heard. When Paul said the Lord had sent him to the Gentiles, the crowd shouted against him. The commanding officer ordered him examined by scourging, but Paul said he was a Roman citizen, and the officer was afraid and brought him before the council.

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Read Acts 22

World English Bible · 30 verses

¹ “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ as also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ “As I made my journey and came close to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ “Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of him who spoke to me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² “One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ “When I had returned to Jerusalem and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a tranceThis verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ “He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ As they cried out, threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ When they had tied him up with straps, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ The commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Open Preschool on its own page

Acts 22 · Preschool

Paul Tells About Jesus

Name Date

Color Paul telling the crowd about Jesus.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.”

Acts 22:15 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Acts 22 tells how Paul told people what Jesus had done for him. Tell your child one way Jesus has helped you (Acts 22:15).

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Acts 22 · Grade 4

Paul's Defense

Name Date

Read and Think

When the crowd heard Paul speak in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said he was born in Tarsus, brought up in Jerusalem, and taught strictly in the law at the feet of Gamaliel. He had persecuted the Way, binding men and women and delivering them into prisons.

As he came near Damascus about noon, a great light suddenly shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard Jesus of Nazareth asking why Saul was persecuting him. Those with him saw the light but did not understand the voice. Jesus told him to go into Damascus, where he would be told what to do.

Ananias, a devout man respected by all, came to him and said, "Brother Saul, receive your sight!" In that very hour Paul looked up at him. Ananias said, "For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard." Later, while praying in the temple, Paul saw the Lord, who said he would send him far away to the Gentiles.

At this the crowd shouted that he should not live. The commanding officer ordered that Paul be examined by scourging. As they tied him, Paul asked a centurion whether it was lawful to scourge a Roman who was not condemned. The officer learned that Paul was born a citizen and was afraid because he had bound him. The next day he released him and brought him before the council.

Show What You Know

At whose feet was Paul taught?
What did Paul's companions see and not understand?
What did Ananias say Paul would be?
What did Paul ask the centurion?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

heardvoiceRomanofficerDamascus

When the crowd Paul speak in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet.
As he came near about noon, a great light suddenly shone around him.
Those with him saw the light but did not understand the .
The commanding ordered that Paul be examined by scourging.
As they tied him, Paul asked a centurion whether it was lawful to scourge a who was not condemned.

Think About It

Paul told his own story of meeting Jesus. What would you say if someone asked how you came to know God?
Paul used his rights as a citizen wisely. How can you stand up for what is fair in a respectful way?

Memory Verse

“For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.”

Acts 22:15 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the lesson of Paul Tells His Story. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How did meeting Jesus change Paul?
Why did Paul share the bad things he had done?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Acts 22 · Grade 5

A Witness to All People

Name Date

Read and Think

Paul addressed the crowd in the Hebrew language, and they kept quiet. He said he was a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law, and zealous for God. He had persecuted the Way, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons, as the high priest and the council of elders could testify, for he received letters from them to bring believers bound from Damascus.

About noon near Damascus, a great light from the sky suddenly shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He answered, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice said, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute." Those with him saw the light and were afraid, but did not understand the voice. Blinded by the glory of that light, he was led by the hand into Damascus.

Ananias, devout according to the law and well reported of by all who lived there, stood by him and said, "Brother Saul, receive your sight!" Paul looked up at him in that very hour. Ananias said the God of their fathers had appointed him to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth, for he would be a witness to all men. Ananias urged him to arise, be baptized, and wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Later, praying in the temple, Paul fell into a trance and saw the Lord, who said, "Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles."

At that word the crowd raised their voices, threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air. The commanding officer ordered Paul brought into the barracks and examined by scourging, to learn why they shouted. As they tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion if it was lawful to scourge a Roman uncondemned. The officer had bought his citizenship for a great price, but Paul said he was born a citizen. Those about to examine him departed, and the officer, afraid because he had bound a Roman, released him the next day and commanded the chief priests and council to meet, setting Paul before them.

Show What You Know

From whom had Paul received letters before going to Damascus?
What did Jesus call himself when he spoke to Saul?
What did Ananias urge Paul to do?
How had the commanding officer gotten his citizenship?

Crossword

Across

Calling on the name of the ____.
As I made my journey and came close to ____.

Down

When the centurion ____ it.
He went to the commanding ____ and told him.
For this man is a ____.

Think About It

Paul's story included the wrong he once did. How can being honest about our failures point people to God's grace?
Jesus said, why are you persecuting me, when Saul was hurting believers. What does that show about how Jesus cares for his people?

Memory Verse

“Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’”

Acts 22:16 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the lesson of Paul Tells His Story. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What does it mean to be a witness?
How could you tell someone what God has done for you?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Acts 22: Paul Tells His Story

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Paul Tells About Jesus

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A Witness for Him

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A Witness for Him

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Paul Tells His Story

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Paul Tells His Story

Read the Story

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What I Have Seen and Heard

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Paul Tells His Story

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Paul's Defense

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Word Bank Fill-In

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A Witness to All People

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

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Prayer

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