How could the Jerusalem authorities arrest Jews in foreign cities like Damascus?
The Jerusalem authorities had sufficient influence with the Roman government to extradite Jews from foreign countries, such as Damascus, and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial and punishment, often resulting in death. This is why Saul could pursue believers in the synagogue at Damascus and arrest them.
Les explains that the chief rulers in Jerusalem had enough clout with the Roman government to extradite Jews from foreign countries, such as Damascus, and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial and punishment, and more than often death. Saul had evidently cleansed the homeland, and then he went to those chief rulers to pursue anyone in the synagogue at Damascus who were believers in Christ, intending to arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem. On the road to Damascus, the Lord called him by grace, even though he did not deserve it.
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
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