Long ago, there lived a man named Saul. Saul was very clever, and he knew the holy books by heart. But there was something sad about Saul: he did not believe in the Lord Jesus, and he did not like the Christians at all. In fact, he tried to hurt them and throw them in prison. Saul thought he was doing the right thing — but he was very, very wrong.
One day, Saul set out on the road to a city called Damascus, to find more Christians and arrest them. He marched along the dusty road, sure that he was right.
But God had a wonderful plan for Saul.
Suddenly, a light from heaven flashed all around him — brighter than the sun! It was so bright that Saul fell to the ground. And then he heard a voice, gentle but powerful, saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you hurting Me?"
Saul trembled. "Who are You, Lord?" he asked.
"I am Jesus," said the voice. "Go into the city, and you will be told what to do."
When Saul stood up and opened his eyes, he found that he could not see at all. The bright light had left him blind. His friends had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus, like a little child. For three whole days Saul could not see, and he did not eat or drink. He only prayed, and thought about the voice of Jesus.
In Damascus there lived a kind Christian named Ananias. God told Ananias to go and help Saul. Ananias was a little afraid — for everyone knew Saul had come to hurt the Christians! But he trusted God, and he went. He laid his hands gently on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me, so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
At once, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes — and he could see! He was filled with joy, and he was baptized that very day.
From that day on, Saul was a brand-new man. He even took a new name: Paul. The man who once hurt the Christians now loved Jesus more than anyone, and he wanted everyone in the whole world to know about Him.
So Paul travelled far and wide — over land and across the sea, to city after city — telling everyone the good news that Jesus is the Son of God who loves them. He started churches everywhere he went. And when he could not visit, he wrote them letters, full of love and wisdom. Those letters are still in our Bible today, and we read them in church!
Paul's life was not easy. He was often tired, and hungry, and even put in prison for loving Jesus. But he was never afraid, because he knew Jesus was with him always. And he stayed faithful right to the very end.
That is how Saul, who once hated the Christians, became Saint Paul, one of the greatest apostles of all. It shows us something beautiful: that God can change any heart, and that no one is ever too far away for His love to reach.
The story of Saul becoming Paul is told in the Bible, in the Book of Acts. Saint Paul is honored as one of the chief apostles, and the Church remembers him with Saint Peter on June 29th.