Paul's Story
A painting of Saul lowered in a basket through the wall of Damascus

Paul's Story · Event 5 of 42

Escape in a Basket

Called by Jesus · Damascus

Before thisAfter this

2 accounts of this passage

Acts 9:19–25

19After he had eaten, his strength returned. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20Right away he began preaching Christ in the synagogues, declaring that he is the Son of God. 21All who heard him were amazed and said, "Isn't this the man who destroyed those in Jerusalem who call on this name? And didn't he come here to bring them bound before the chief priests?" 22But Saul grew increasingly powerful and confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. 23After many days had passed, the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24But their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him. 25But his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Read Acts 9
Up nextBarnabas Stands Up for SaulActs 9:26–30

About this event

What happened?

Saul at once began to preach in the synagogues of Damascus that Jesus is the Son of God. All who heard him were amazed, because he was the man who had attacked believers in Jerusalem. But Saul grew stronger and proved to the Jews of Damascus that Jesus is the Christ. After many days, some plotted to kill him and watched the city gates day and night. So one night his disciples lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.

Who is here?

  • The disciples in Damascus

Where did this happen?

Damascus

An old city in Syria, northeast of the Sea of Galilee, where Saul was going to arrest believers.

Where this fits

Event 3 of 5 in Called by Jesus: Jesus stops Saul on the road to Damascus, and Saul begins to preach the faith he fought.

Good to know

In Galatians 1:17-18, Paul says he went into Arabia and returned to Damascus, and went up to Jerusalem three years later. Acts does not mention Arabia. In 2 Corinthians 11:32, Paul says the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city to arrest him.

Keep exploring

Before thisAnanias Restores Saul's SightActs 9:10–19After thisBarnabas Stands Up for SaulActs 9:26–30

Paul's Story