THE STORY OF PAUL

BASED ON ACTS

CHARACTERS

NARRATOR 1

NARRATOR 2

NARRATOR 3

SAUL/PAUL

ANANIAS

THE VOICE OF CHRIST

LYDIA

THE JAILER

NARRATOR 1: After Jesus’ death and resurrection, his disciples spread the story all over Jerusalem and Galilee. Many people heard about Jesus and his teachings and became believers. These people began to be called “Followers of the Way”, following the way of Jesus. Other people didn’t like the Followers of the Way and wanted to put them in prison or kill them as they had killed Jesus. One of these people was named Saul.

NARRATOR 2: Saul believed that the followers of the Way were wrong. He spent a lot of time trying to imprison Jesus’ followers. One day he went to the Jewish High Priest and asked for letters to the synagogue in Damascus. These letters would give Saul the right to arrest any women or men who were followers of the Way of Jesus.

NARRATOR 3: As he was riding his horse from Jerusalem to Damascus suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him and he fell from his horse to the ground. He heard a voice saying…

VOICE OF CHRIST: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?

SAUL/PAUL: Who are you, Lord?

VOICE OF CHRIST: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Get up and enter the city; you will be told what to do.

NARRATOR 1: The people who were traveling with Saul stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing, so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

NARRATOR 2: Now, there was a disciple of Jesus in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision…

VOICE OF CHRIST: Ananias.

ANANIAS: Here I am, Lord.

VOICE OF CHRIST: Get up and go to the street called Straight. At the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul.

ANANIAS: I have heard of this man, he is cruel and mean and has caused much pain for your followers. I hear he is here to arrest us!

VOICE OF CHRIST: I have chosen him as the person who will bring my message and teachings about love to kings, to people all over the Roman Empire, and to the people of Israel. I will show him how he must change, and how hard it will be to do what I am calling him to do.

NARRATOR 3: While Ananias was on his way to where Saul was staying, Saul had a vision and heard the voice of Christ…

VOICE OF CHRIST: Saul, a man named Ananias will come and lay his hands on you and you will regain your sight.

NARRATOR 1: Just then Ananias entered the house and did just as Christ had said…

ANANIAS: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me here that you may be healed and filled with the Holy Spirit.

NARRATOR 2: And suddenly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and his sight was restored. Then they got up and Saul was baptized. He turned from being an enemy of the Followers of the Way to being one of the leaders of the group.

NARRATOR 3: Saul and his travel companions and mentors in the Way began to travel all over the Roman Empire. Saul decided he would be taken more seriously if he took on his father’s Roman heritage. So he changed his own name from the Hebrew, Saul, to the Roman, Paul. Wherever they went, they told about Jesus’ life and teachings. They sailed from Troas and came to Philippi, a leading city in the district of Macedonia, which was a Roman colony.

NARRATOR 1: After they had been there a few days, they went down to the river and found a woman named Lydia, along with many other women. They had gathered by the river to pray.

PAUL: I would like to tell you about Jesus and why I believe he is the Messiah.

LYDIA: I would like to hear what you have to say.

NARRATOR 2: So Paul told Lydia and the women with her all about Jesus’ life and teachings. Paul told them about Jesus’ death and resurrection.

LYDIA: I believe what you are saying and would like to become a Follower of the Way, and a disciple of Christ.

NARRATOR 3: So Paul and Silas baptized Lydia and all the women who were with her.

LYDIA: I am a wealthy merchant who deals in purple cloth. I have a house and can open my home to other Followers of the Way. If you believe I am faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ, please come and stay at my home and teach us more.

NARRATOR 1: So Paul and Silas stayed with Lydia and she created a church in her house for the Followers of the Way. One day Paul and Silas were walking in town and cast a spirit out of a slave girl. The owners of the girl were very unhappy because the spirit had been able to predict the future, and her owners used her to make money. So the owners had Paul and Silas arrested, saying that they were troublemakers and Followers of the Way. Paul and Silas were thrown into jail and chained to the wall.

PAUL: Maybe God put us here so that we could share the good news of Jesus with the other prisoners. Let’s tell them about Jesus and sing some hymns.

NARRATOR 2: So Paul and Silas began to preach and teach and sing. About midnight there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. The jailer woke up and rushed in…

JAILER: Oh no, the jail is open, I’m sure all the prisoners have escaped. My boss will have me put to a horrible death for allowing this to happen. It would be better if I just killed myself with my own sword right now.

PAUL: No, don’t hurt yourself! We are all here.

JAILER: Quick, bring torches so that I can see this miracle. Sir, what must I do to be saved?

PAUL: Believe in Jesus and you will be saved, you and your whole household.

NARRATOR 3: Then Paul and Silas told them about Jesus Christ and the jailer and his whole household were baptized that night.

NARRATOR 1: Paul was able to get the charges against him and Silas dropped and they went on their way to teach in more places.

NARRATOR 2: Paul traveled to many places and got into trouble for teaching and preaching about Jesus Christ.

NARRATOR 3: He was thrown into jail in many places for teaching about Jesus Christ. But he still kept teaching and starting churches like the one Lydia now had in her home.

THE END

Deepening Faith: Youth Ministry Resources and Some Miscellaneous Advice

Rev. Lizann Bassham, Front Porch Spirit Press