Who was Saul actually going after in Damascus?
Saul targeted Jews in Damascus who had embraced Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah, whether men or women. He sought letters to the synagogues to arrest followers of “the way” and bring them bound to Jerusalem. He was not pursuing the general Syrian population, only those Jews who believed in Christ.
Les explains that Saul went to the high priest and obtained letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wasn’t going to bother with the Syrian population; he wanted only those Jews who had embraced faith in the Messiah. He sought any of “this way” who were following Christ as Messiah, men or women, young or old, to bring them bound to Jerusalem. He was vicious and merciless, viewing them as a threat to his religion and not worth living.
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.
Whom was Saul authorized to arrest and where was he to take them?
Saul's letters authorized him to search the synagogues of Damascus for followers of 'the Way' who confessed Christ as Messiah — men or women alike — and to bring them bound back to Jerusalem.
Who were the people referred to as 'this way' that Saul sought in the synagogues of Damascus?
The group Saul was hunting in the synagogues of Damascus—called 'this way'—were Jewish believers who had embraced Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah.