Good morning Year 5,
Today I would like to share with you the story of a man called Paul who was originally called Saul.
He was a Jew who came from Tarsus. In the Acts of the Apostles Paul explains what happened to him and how he was converted:
As I was travelling and coming near Damascus, about midday a bright light from the sky flashed suddenly round me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” I asked. “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute,” he said to me. The men with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. I asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” and the Lord said to me, “Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that God has determined for you to do” I was blind because of the bright light, and so my companions took me by the hand and led me into Damascus.
In that city was a man named Ananias, a religious man who obeyed our Law and was highly respected by all the Jews living there. He came to me, stood by me, and said, “Brother Saul, see again!” At that very moment I saw again and looked at him. He said, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see his righteous Servant, and to hear him speaking with his own voice. For you will be a witness for him to tell everyone what you have seen and heard. And now, why wait any longer? Get up and be baptised and have your sins washed away by praying to him.”
Based on Acts 22: 6-16
Reflect on the following questions:
What do you think about Saul’s story? Does anything surprise you?
How do you think Saul felt when Jesus asked him ‘why do you persecute me’?
Why did Ananias ask Saul to become baptised?
How was Saul transformed by the Holy Spirit?
Now, have a look at this painting called ‘ The Conversion of Saul’ by Fra Angelico:
How has the artist shown the transformation that has taken place and the effect that it had on Saul?
Can you make links between the two?
Here are some useful sentence starters:
In the scripture it says…
On the picture it shows…
I think this because…
(Note that most pictures depict a horse, which is not recorded in scripture)
Then you could have a go at creating your own artwork to show the transformation of Saul or to show your own personal spiritual transformation. Tell us about your art in the comments.
You can upload your art here: Homework Uploader.
As it is Wednesday, Miss Coleman and Miss Carruthers will kindly respond to the blogs today.
I look forward to seeing your art work!
Mrs Avdiu & Ms Robertson
Printable version of this blog:Religious Education week 3
by Sara
Hello Everyone ! ?
I hope you are all having an amazing day so far
I hope and wish that you are all safe and well ?
For today’s Religious Education task I have read the text and answered the questions, then I have made so differences and similarities between the scripture and the painting. When I have spare time in my day like we I am free I will take out my painting tools and get to work on doing my own painting ?
I think that the Saul’s story was interesting and quite different to any other I have heard ,on one of the parts it said that the other men standing around Saul saw the blinding light but did not hear the voice which I found very peculiar ?, it did have me thinking for a while.
I think Saul felt a bit guilty when Jesus asked why he had persecuted him because he might of thought it was all his fault and that he was a terrible person which in not a nice feeling.
Ananias might of told Saul to get baptised because when you are baptised you can wash away your sins and start a new fresh life so that Jesus and God could forgive him ?
Saul was transformed by the Holy Spirit when he was baptised because he had washed away his sins so he could start a new wonderful life again.
The artist had shown in the painting that Jesus was asking Saul why he had persecuted him and the effect it had on Saul was a huge one I think at that moment Saul felt very guilty and I assume that he must of felt like a horrible person.
Now comparing the painting to the scripture :
In the scripture it said that only Saul had been able to see Jesus and the blinking light and then only the men could see the light in the picture you can tell that the men were confused of what was happening because they could not see Jesus.
I hope you have all enjoyed ??
I will do the painting this afternoon if I can
~Elena ?
Well done Elena. You have clearly thought hard about this story and what it means. It is such an amazing story and Saul’s life was completely transformed by Jesus. I like to think that Jesus only wanted to talk to Saul, not the other men, and so made sure only Saul could hear him. It is such an important reminder because if Jesus can forgive Saul for everything he did, then we should feel okay going to Jesus for forgiveness.
I can’t wait to see your painting Elena!
What a lovely drawing Elena! I love how shocked the other two men look!
Hi everyone,
Here is my work for today's Religious Education:
It says in the scripture,’ I was blind because of the bright light, and so my companions took
me by the hand and led me into Damascus.' In the painting, Saul is lying down blinded by
the bright light and in the image there are several companions. I can perceive a town and I
understand that this town is Damascus. Acts 22: 6 – 16 say that it was midday however I am
able to detect that the background is darkness.
Well done Regan for making a comparison. I wonder if the darkness in the painting shows just how bright the bright light from God was, that it managed to make the midday sun look dark!
Hi everyone.
The picture I have sent has a dove which represents the angle in the original picture and so does the sun which shines.
The sunset represents that it’s late. The thorn bushes on both sides represents pain and evil also the dove has led Saul out of the forest full of evil spirits and Satan. The sword that Saul has dropped has blood on it and he has dropped it because he’s now a worshiper of God.
It looks beautiful, Sara! Thank you
Thank you for your kind complement Miss Carruthers ???❤️
I hope you all have a nice day ?
It looks beautiful, Sara! Thank you