City

Damascus

Ancient name: Damascus
Modern location: Damascus · Syria
Location: Identified site

Editorial summary

Saul was nearing Damascus with letters to arrest followers of the Way when a light from the sky shone around him. In the city Ananias laid hands on him, and Saul preached in the synagogues until he escaped by being let down through the wall in a basket.

What happened here

Saul on the road to Damascus
Saul was nearing Damascus with letters from the high priest to bring followers of the Way to Jerusalem bound, when a light from the sky shone around him and a voice told him it was Jesus, whom he was persecuting. Led into the city unable to see, for three days he neither ate nor drank.
Acts says this happened as Saul came near Damascus; it does not name the spot on the road.
Paul’s Conversion · Stop 2
Ananias lays hands on Saul
In a vision the Lord sent Ananias, a disciple at Damascus, to Saul at the house of Judah on the street called Straight. Ananias had heard of the evil Saul had done, but he went and laid hands on him; something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he received his sight and was baptized.
Paul’s Conversion · Stop 3
Escape over the Damascus wall
At Damascus Saul at once proclaimed the Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God, and confounded the Jews who lived there. After many days a plot was made to kill him and the gates were watched day and night, but his disciples let him down through the wall in a basket.
Paul’s Conversion · Stop 3
Into Arabia and back to Damascus
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes that when God revealed his Son in him, he did not immediately consult anyone or go up to Jerusalem to the apostles, but went away into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.
Paul does not say where in Arabia he went or how long he stayed. This is his own account; Acts 9 does not mention Arabia.
Paul’s Conversion · Stop 9