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Today we’re going to hear a story about how many years ago, a man made an incredible escape from the city of Damascus in the Middle East. His name was Paul.

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Paul was a Christian, a follower of Jesus, and he was a great traveller. During his life he journeyed thousands of miles to many different places.

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Wherever Paul went, whether in the countryside, in towns or cities, he told the people he met that Jesus loved them.

But it wasn’t always like this with Paul. He used to be a trouble causer for Christians. There was a time when Paul persecuted and harassed them.

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Paul even got Christians thrown in prison for believing in Jesus. At that time, he simply didn’t understand that believing in Jesus was the right thing to do.

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At one time, Paul left Jerusalem with letters from the authorities to go to Damascus, seek out any Christians, arrest them and get them thrown into prison.

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Damascus was a big city with lots of people in it. It was also a long way from Jerusalem. It would take Paul two weeks to get there.

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But before Paul reached Damascus, a very strange thing happened to him on the road. Suddenly he saw a bright light which caused him to fall to the ground, he heard a voice too! “Paul why are you harassing Me, why are you causing so much trouble for Christians” “Who are you” Paul asked “I am Jesus” the voice answered.

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When Paul got up, he could not see, he had to be led by his friends for the last part of the journey. Damascus was not too far now, they would soon be there.

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Paul’s friends led him into the city where Paul found a place to stay. Jesus had told Paul to wait in Damascus and he would tell him what to do. For 3 days Paul waited to hear something, he didn’t eat, or drink and he still couldn’t see.

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In Damascus there was a Christian man named Ananias. In a vision, Jesus told Ananias to go to Paul and pray for him to receive his sight. At first Ananias didn’t want to go. He had heard lots of horrible things about how Paul had, had Christians thrown in prison.

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But Jesus told Ananias it was OK. So off he went and found Paul just where Jesus had told him. Ananias prayed for Paul, his eyes were opened and he was filled with God’s Holy Spirit. Paul got up, was baptised, ate food and was strengthened.

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Paul was a changed man; right away he started telling people about Jesus. The people didn’t understand. They asked one another, “wasn’t this the man who had come to Damascus to arrest Christians, now he has joined them.” Paul stayed in Damascus several days and his message became stronger and stronger.

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Whilst some people listened to Paul others were not at all happy. They either wanted the old Paul back or Paul out of the way. They decided that they would kill Him.

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Those that wanted Paul dead, put a watch on the city gate waiting for Paul to leave so that they could grab him.

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Day and night they watched the entrance to the city, they were determined to get Paul.

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However, Paul found out about the plot to kill him and the Christians in Damascus came up with a plan of their own. Whilst Paul’s enemies watched the city gate, they took Paul and lowered him in a basket through an opening they had found in the city wall.

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Paul immediately set off back to Jerusalem where he met other believers. At first, some of them were afraid of Paul, but they quickly realised that the man who used to harass them was now following Jesus too.

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Paul wasted no time, everywhere he went he boldly told people about Jesus. Many, many people came to believe in Jesus because of Paul’s message and yes there were still some who wanted Paul dead and made a lot of trouble for him.

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Several times Paul was arrested and he even spent time in prison just for talking about Jesus.

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But even though Paul had some hard times, he never stopped telling the Good News about Jesus. In homes, in church, on the streets, everywhere Paul shared how Jesus had changed his life.