“A Changed Heart”

​B I B L E  B I T S  &  B I T E S
Devotions for Families

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 12: “A Changed Heart”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 9:20-31

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_BaCLcVMeU (Cartoon Works)

“Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.” (Acts 9:22, NLT)

After Paul (a.k.a. Saul) discovered that he had been completely wrong about Jesus, he went right to work telling others the truth he had learned—Jesus had been the long-promised Messiah! He was so convincing, that some of his old friends, the religious leaders, decided they needed to put a stop to Paul…they made a plan to kill him. The believers in Damascus learned about the plot against Paul’s life and they helped him escape from the city by lowering him down over the city wall in a basket.

He traveled to Jerusalem and tried to join the believers there, but they were too scared of him. Remember, that before Paul had gone to Damascus, he had been involved in trying to stop the early church in Jerusalem and had been responsible for beating, imprisoning and even killing Christians. One brave man, Barnabas, came to Paul’s defense and was able to explain to the believers that Paul wasn’t just putting on an act…he really had become one of them.

After that, Paul began preaching in Jerusalem, but again, his former friends and colleagues decided to shut him up by killing him and the believers helped Paul escape to his hometown of Tarsus. Then, for a time, the Christians were able to experience some peace and they continued to grow as more people believed in Jesus.

Think about it...
• Before Jesus had stopped Saul on the road to Damascus, he had been convinced that Christians needed to be stopped. Once he met Jesus, what did he become convinced of?
• Paul had studied the Scriptures for many years and once he understood that Jesus had been the Messiah, there was no stopping him from telling others. How did his old friends respond?
• The Christians had to help Paul escape plots on his life. Why did his old friends and colleagues want to see Paul dead?
• At first the Christians in Jerusalem doubted Pauls’ sincerity. Why? What convinced them that he was now a believer like them?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that the story of Saul shows us that you can change anyone. You can use anyone. You love everyone! Help us to be brave like Paul to share our faith in Jesus.
~Pastor Jane
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