Purpose: Run a complete Bible TEFL lesson using the Scripture Text PDF, the Bible Lesson PDF, and the Discussion Questions PDF as the student reading and speaking material.
Recommended Level: A2–B1 | Lesson Length: 30–45 minutes
1) Lesson Overview
- Theme: zeal, darkness and light, meeting Jesus, obedience, testimony, witness, new purpose, and peace with God.
- Skills: Reading, listening, vocabulary building, discussion, speaking practice, and writing in English.
- Outcome: Student can retell Paul's encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road and explain how Jesus changed Paul's direction, gave him a new mission, and brought peace.
Tutor Tip: The purpose of this TEFL lesson is to help students read, write, and speak English while discussing the Scripture and Bible lesson. Encourage complete sentences. Ask follow-up questions. Give students time to think and speak. Depending on the age, number of students, English proficiency level, and available class time, please feel free to modify this lesson material to best meet your students' needs. You may also want to read the accompanying Student Self-Study TEFL lesson for additional ideas and activities as you plan your lesson.
2) Suggested Lesson Flow
- Open with warm-up questions.
- Read the Scripture handout aloud.
- Ask the student to summarize the Scripture in simple English.
- Read the Bible lesson, Jesus Brings Peace.
- Review vocabulary and practice pronunciation.
- Use comprehension, discussion, and speaking questions.
- Finish with a short writing activity.
3) Warm-Up Questions
- Have you ever been very sure about something and later learned you were wrong?
- Why do sincere people sometimes misunderstand what God wants?
- What can cause a person to change direction in life?
- Why is it important to ask, “What shall I do, Lord?”
4) Vocabulary
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Tutor Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| zealous | Very eager and committed to a belief, cause, or work. | How was Saul zealous before he met Jesus? |
| persecute | To treat people badly because of their faith or beliefs. | Whom was Saul persecuting? |
| The Way | An early name for followers of Jesus and the Christian faith. | Why did Saul oppose The Way? |
| great light | The bright light from heaven that shone around Saul near Damascus. | What happened when the light shone around Saul? |
| voice | The sound of someone speaking; in this passage, Jesus speaks to Saul. | What did Jesus ask Saul? |
| obey | To do what someone in authority tells you to do. | How did Saul begin to obey Jesus? |
| witness | A person who tells what he or she has seen and heard. | What would Paul become a witness of? |
| peace | Calm, restored relationship, and well-being with God and others. | How did Paul's changed life help bring peace? |
5) Bible Text Comprehension
- Where was Saul born, and where was he educated?
- How did Saul describe his zeal for God?
- What did Saul do to followers of The Way?
- Why was Saul traveling to Damascus?
- What happened near Damascus about noon?
- What question did Jesus ask Saul?
- How did Jesus identify Himself?
- What did the people with Saul see and not understand?
- What did Saul ask after he learned Jesus was speaking to him?
- Why did Saul need to be led by the hand into Damascus?
- Who came to Saul in Damascus?
- What mission did God give Saul through Ananias?
6) Bible Lesson Discussion
- Why did Saul believe he was serving God while he was persecuting Christians?
- How can sincere people sometimes be mistaken about what God wants?
- Why do you think Jesus asked, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” instead of simply condemning him?
- How can an encounter with Jesus completely change the direction of a person's life?
- Why are Saul's two questions important: “Who are you, Lord?” and “What shall I do, Lord?”
- What does it mean to be a witness for Jesus today, even if we have not seen Him as Paul did?
- How did Jesus bring Paul from darkness into light?
- How did Paul's changed life help bring peace to the church?
7) Speaking Practice
- Retell Saul's story from Acts 22:3–15 in your own words.
- Explain why Saul thought he was doing right before he met Jesus.
- Describe the light from heaven and what happened to Saul.
- Explain why Jesus said Saul was persecuting Him.
- Speak for 30–60 seconds: Why is the question “Who are you, Lord?” important?
- Speak for 30–60 seconds: Why is the question “What shall I do, Lord?” important?
- Explain how Ananias helped Saul after Jesus spoke to him.
- Tell about one way a person can be a witness for Jesus today.
Language Coaching Tip: Encourage the student to answer in complete sentences. If the student answers with only one or two words, ask a gentle follow-up such as “Can you tell me more?” “Why do you think that?” “Can you explain that another way?” or “Can you give an example?”
8) Writing Task
- Option A: Summarize Paul's encounter with Jesus in 6–8 sentences.
- Option B: Write a paragraph explaining how Jesus changed Paul's direction.
- Option C: Write about why obedience should follow faith.
- Option D: Write three sentences using these words: zealous, light, voice, obey, witness.
9) Wrap-Up
Wrap-up: Saul was zealous for God, but he was wrong about Jesus and wrong about the people he persecuted. Near Damascus, a great light from heaven shone around him, and Jesus spoke to him. Saul asked who Jesus was and what he should do. Jesus did not leave Saul in darkness. He sent him to Damascus, healed him through Ananias, and gave him a new mission. Saul became Paul, a witness for Jesus, and his changed life helped bring peace to the church.
Final Question: What part of Paul's journey speaks to you the most: his zeal, his encounter with Jesus, his obedience, or his new purpose? Why?