Paul Escapes Damascus in a Basket



This is the visual aid I made for this lesson. (Same visual with different style baskets.) I used a science trifold, added the top with cardboard, and covered the whole project with bulletin board paper. I added the windows and door. I tried to make a simple version of the photos of the real wall. It's easy storage also! Even though Saul was let down out of a window, I have him from the top because of the weight of him in the basket. I discussed this with the students, so they know. 2 Corinthians 11:33 

Review: Last week we talked about Saul. He was putting people in prison for telling others about Jesus. Then as he was on his way to find more Christians, he was blinded by a light from heaven.

The other people with him could hear a voice, but they didn't see anyone, and the voice said “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” Jesus told Saul to go into the city and he would be told what to do. The other men helped take him the rest of the way to Damascus. He couldn’t see for three days. He didn’t eat or drink for three days. Then God told Ananias to go find Saul.

Ananias was nervous about going to find Saul of Tarsus because he asked God, “Isn’t he the one that is putting Christians in prison?” God told Ananias that He picked Saul to teach others, including kings, about Me. (Acts 9:15-16)

Ananias did as God told him to, and he went and laid hands-on Saul. Something like scales fell off Saul's eyes and he could see. Saul immediately went to be baptized.  

Saul ate and spent time with other disciples.

Saul came to put the followers of Jesus in prison, and now he was returning to tell everyone he could about Jesus!

Lesson: Scripture is Acts 9:19-31. Saul immediately started to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. Everyone who heard about Saul preaching was amazed!

(Acts 9:22) Saul increased all the more in strength, and confused the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

They said, “Isn’t he the one that put people in prison for doing the very same thing?” But Saul kept preaching and the Jews that lived in Damascus couldn't believe that Saul kept talking about Jesus.

The Jews planned to kill Saul! They watched the gates day and night to try and kill him.

 

The disciples heard about their plans, so, one night, the disciples let Saul down the city wall from a window of Damascus inside a large basket. (Window is in 2 Corinthians 11:33) 

 

Saul left Damascus and spent some time in Arabia. (Galatians 1:17-18) Then he returned to Damascus. He was a very different person. Before he came to put the followers of Jesus in prison, and then he is returned to tell everyone he could about Jesus.

Saul went to Jerusalem next, and he wanted to spend time with the Christians, but they were afraid of him. They didn’t believe Saul had really changed so fast and so much! He spent fifteen days with Peter and saw James.

Barnabas took Saul to the apostles and told them about Saul being blinded by the light on the road to Damascus, that Jesus had spoken to Saul and how he had been preaching at Damascus. Saul preached boldly, but more people wanted to kill him. Saul left and went to Tarsus, where he lived as a boy. The churches in Judea, Galilee and Samaria grew and were peaceful.

Here is the project we did with this lesson. I used the large 12x18 black or dark blue construction paper. I purchased 12x12 stone scrapbook paper. I cut the top to look like the wall and have the string inserted through the paper and tied to the ends of the basket. The students will glue on the windows and add the star stickers for the night. You can print the basket and Saul here.

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You can find all the Acts worksheets here.

I hang this banner with the display. I have, in the past, made the display on the right. I attached corrugated stone bulletin board paper to the wall. I set the basket on the floor and attach the rope behind the top of the paper so it can't be seen. They love sitting in it like Saul, but really wanted it to go up and down!

  

Bible Verse:  Acts 9:22

Passport: Damascus

 

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Used by permission.