Who did Saul go to for letters to the synagogues in Damascus?
Saul went to the high priest and asked him for letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus. Those letters authorized him to find any who followed Christ as Messiah, whether men or women, and bring them bound to Jerusalem. He sought permission from the high priest for this mission.
Les explains that Saul went to the high priest and desired letters to Damascus to the synagogues. He was not going to bother with the Syrian population; his target was the Jews who had embraced faith in the Messiah. With those letters, if he found any of this way who followed Christ as Messiah, whether men or women, he could bring them bound to Jerusalem. Les says Saul was vicious, had no mercy, and did not care whether they were young or old. He considered them a threat to his religion. Later, in Galatians, Les notes that the man never got over that persecution, having persecuted beyond measure and wasted his authority.
And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Why did Saul visit the high priest in Acts 9?
Saul went to the high priest to obtain official letters authorizing him to travel to Damascus, arrest Jews who had embraced the Gospel of the Kingdom, and bring them bound back to Jerusalem. He sought authority to persecute these believers, both men and women, in the synagogues.
What did Saul's letters authorize him to do to followers of Christ in Damascus?
Saul's letters authorized him to go to the synagogues in Damascus and, finding any followers of Christ, men or women, bring them bound back to Jerusalem. He aimed specifically at Jews who had embraced Jesus as Messiah, not the general Syrian population, and acted without mercy because he saw them as a threat to his religion.
More Questions
Why did Saul ask the high priest for letters to Damascus?
Saul requested letters from the high priest so that he could go to Damascus, arrest Jewish believers in Jesus, and bring them back to Jerusalem.
What did Saul's letters from the high priest authorize him to do to believers in Damascus?
Saul's letters authorized him to arrest any of 'this way' in the Damascus synagogues who were following Christ as Messiah — whether men or women — and bring them bound back to Jerusalem.