The news of Paul's conversion had come to the Jews as a great surprise. He who had journeyed to Damascus "with authority and commission from the chief priests" (Acts 26:12) to apprehend and persecute the believers was now 124 preaching the gospel of a crucified and risen Saviour, strengthening the hands of those who were already its disciples, and continually bringing in new converts to the faith he had once so bitterly opposed.

Rygtet om Paulus omvendelse var kommet som en stor overraskelse for jøderne. Han, der var draget til Damaskus "med fuldmagt og myndighed fra ypperstepræsterne" for at pågribe og forfølge de troende, prædikede nu evangeliet om en korsfæstet og opstanden Frelser, støttede dem, der allerede var disciple og bragte stadig nye omvendte til den tro, han engang havde bekæmpet så hårdt.