Philip had intercepted the Ethiopian eunuch, on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8:26-27). This man, the Chief Finance Minister for his country, was a God-fearer and very much wanted to understand more. He was reading from Isaiah 53 when Philip joined him but did not understand.
The persecution, sparked by Stephen's religious murder, was effective in driving many Christians out of Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). But they took the gospel with them and Acts 8:4-40 showed how many more people came to believe in Jesus as a result of Philip's ministry in Samaria and Judea (Acts 1:8).
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. The religious zealot thought he was pleasing God by persecuting Christians, but he was wrong (Acts 9:1-2).
The blind Saul (later called Paul) was led by the hand to Damascus. He did not know exactly where he was, but Jesus knew all about him; his name, his birthplace and his new prayer-life. Elsewhere in the city, a Jewish believer in Jesus (perhaps a refugee from the persecution in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1)) named Ananias also heard the Lord Jesus speaking to him in a vision.
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. Arriving in Judas' house in Straight Street, Ananias found Saul who was unable to see (Acts 9:11-12). He reached out to the former persecutor, greeting him warmly as a brother in Christ.
Saul had met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus. Saul's intention was to persecute the believers and try to eliminate the Jewish sect called 'The Way' (their term for Christians – Acts 9:2) who followed Jesus. Instead Jesus confronted Saul's arrogant ignorance, and Saul was converted, received the Holy Spirit and was baptised. From that moment Saul started a whole new life. First, he fellowshipped with his new spiritual siblings – the same people who he had come to arrest and imprison.
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.
After Stephen's murder (he was stoned to death by the same Sanhedrin who sentenced Jesus to death – Acts 7:54-60), a wave of persecution erupted in Jerusalem and Saul extended this to Jews in other countries who believed in Jesus (Acts 8:1-3). Saul's sudden conversion was a shock to him, and the newly formed churches and to the unbelieving Jews.
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. Lydda was north-west of Jerusalem at the foot of the hills above the coastal plain of Sharon about 15 miles from the sea-port of Joppa (Jonah 1:1-3). A church had been formed there and needed apostolic instruction.
Peter had just seen Aenaes healed in Lydda where a large number of people were converted. They realised the awesome authority of Jesus Christ. About 15 miles away, in the Mediterranean sea-port of Joppa, a much loved believer called Tabitha had died. Hearing that Peter was nearby in Lydda, the believers sent two men to ask him to come quickly.
