Why did Saul go to Damascus?
Saul went to Damascus to arrest and extradite Jewish believers in Jesus who had fled there, acting with authority from the high priest and rulers of Israel. He intended to bring these renegade Jews back for punishment, including imprisonment and death, because they had followed Jesus of Nazareth.
Les explains that Judaism had considerable clout with the Romans, so the high priest and Israel’s rulers could demand extradition from certain cities of the Roman Empire. Saul and the religious leaders therefore planned to go to Damascus and bring back the renegade Jews who had followed Jesus of Nazareth so they could deal with them. Paul later rehearses that they imprisoned and put such believers to death. After Saul met the Lord on the road to Damascus, however, God’s sovereign way of working changed, and Saul became a chosen vessel to bear Christ’s name before Gentiles, kings, and Israel.