Who was Saul targeting when he went to Damascus?
Saul targeted Jews in Damascus who had embraced faith in the Messiah, specifically followers of the Way who confessed Christ as Messiah. He obtained letters to the synagogues to arrest and bind both men and women and bring them to Jerusalem. He was not pursuing the Syrian population, only these Jewish believers.
Les explains that Saul went to the high priest and desired letters to Damascus to the synagogues. He wasn't going to bother with the Syrian population; all he wanted were those Jews who had embraced faith in the Messiah. His letters authorized him to search the synagogues in Damascus, and if he found any of this way who were following Christ as his Messiah, whether men or women, he might bring them bound under Jerusalem. Les notes Saul was vicious and had no mercy, not caring whether they were young or old, men or women. If they had embraced Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah, Saul's attitude was they were not worth living and were a threat to his religion.
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.
More Questions
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.