In verses 1-2 Saul was so blindly consumed to erase any followers of Jesus Christ that he asked the high priest to write letters to support his ambitious zeal.
As Saul nears Damascus, he falls to the ground because of a great light from heaven and is confronted by the Lord.
Saul’s arrival in Damascus is less prideful than planned.
The Lord speaks to Ananias in a vision about a man with blind ambition that He has called as a chosen instrument.
Ananias obeys God, accepts Saul as a brother, and prays for him to receive the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s plan.
Luke’s narrative leaves out a three year period of time from Saul’s testimony in Galatians 1:13-17. However, Saul does return to Damascus and baffles many Jews, causing them to conspire to kill Saul.
Saul’s leaving Damascus is just as humbling as his arrival. And when he arrives in Jerusalem, he is first rejected until Barnabas a witness of Saul’s conversion and of his bold proclamations of Jesus, arranges a meeting with Peter.
When Saul’s life is threatened again by Grecian Jews in Jerusalem, the brothers send Saul to Caesarea and then to his home town Tarsus and the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. The church was strengthened, encouraged by the Holy Spirit, grew in numbers and lived in the fear of the Lord.