Why did Saul want to go to Damascus to persecute believers?
Saul wanted to go to Damascus because he was not satisfied with persecuting believers in Jerusalem and Judea. Acting in the name of religion, he believed he was doing God a service by stamping out any belief in Jesus of Nazareth among the believing Jews there.
Les explains that Saul of Tarsus began his rampage against these believing Jews when Stephen was martyred in chapter 7. Not satisfied with what he had accomplished in Jerusalem and Judea, Saul wanted to go after the believing Jews up at Damascus. Les points out that Saul did all of this in the name of religion, thinking he was doing his God a service by stamping out any believing in Jesus of Nazareth. That was the background of his mission.