Jesus confronted Saul (later known as Paul) on the road to Damascus. This passage starts just after Jesus had asked him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4) His reply was honest, "Who are You Lord?" Saul had heard about Jesus, and despised Him; but Saul did not know Him.

Ananias was fearful that his vision with the instruction to meet Saul might have put him in danger (Acts 9:15-16). But the Lord convinced him to trust and obey.

Saul (later called Paul) had met Jesus Christ and been converted. Instead of persecuting believers, he became a fully convinced follower of Jesus. He stopped persecuting the church and started to preach that Jesus is the Messiah (the Greek word is 'Christ'). Although religious people in Damascus initially tolerated Saul, eventually he proved too much of a threat to them. So they planned to kill him. Keeping the gates under surveillance day and night, they planned to ambush Saul when he left the city. There was no way out.

Peter had visited Samaria to affirm the new believers in their faith, and see for himself what God was doing among people who were not regarded as true Jews. But most of his time was spent in Jerusalem and the towns of Judea, like Lydda, teaching Jews who had believed in Jesus.