Advanced Lesson 3 -
Saul Becomes a Follower of the Lord
Reading Exercise
This reading exercise is the second part of Advanced Lesson 3, the story of how the Pharisee Saul becomes a follower of Jesus. You can also do it as an individual reading exercise.
First, here are the answers to the listening questions for this lesson.
1. What did Saul want to do before the Lord appeared and spoke to him?
Saul wanted to arrest anybody who had accepted the Lord’s way and worshipped the Lord.
2. What happened to Saul right after the Lord spoke to him?
When he opened his eyes, he could not see. For three days, he was blind and did not eat or drink.
3. Who was Ananias?
Ananias was a follower of Jesus who lived in Damascus.
4. What did the Lord tell Ananias to do?
The Lord told Ananias where to go to find Saul, in order to restore Saul’s sight.
5. What was the vision Saul had, and did the vision come true?
Saul had a vision that a man named Ananias would come to him and put his hands on him so that he could see again. Yes, the vision came true.
6. What did the Lord want Saul to do once his sight was restored?
The Lord wanted Saul to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about him.
Reading Text
Here is the text for this story. Read it several times. Try to understand the words in the context of each sentence. We will talk about vocabulary in the next exercise.
When you have finished reading, download the reading PDF if you like. Read and listen together a few more times.
Saul Becomes a Follower of the Lord
Acts 9:1-19 CEV
Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord’s followers. He even went to the high priest and asked for letters to the leaders of the synagogues in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord’s Way. When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?”
“Who are you?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus,” the Lord answered. “I am the one you are so cruel to. Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.”
The men with Saul stood there speechless. They had heard the voice, but they had not seen anyone. Saul got up from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could not see a thing. Someone then led him by the hand to Damascus, and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink.
A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, “Lord, here I am.”
The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so he could see again.”
Ananias replied, “Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.”
The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.”
Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. Then he ate and felt much better.
Here is the audio recording again, so you can read as you listen.
Saul Becomes a Follower of the Lord: Acts 9:1-19
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