The Jews were thoroughly surprised and confounded by the conversion of Paul. They were aware of his position at Jerusalem, and knew what was his principal errand to Damascus, and that he was armed with a commission from the high priest, that authorized him to take the believers in Jesus, and to send them as prisoners to Jerusalem; yet now they beheld him preaching the gospel of Jesus, strengthening those who were already its disciples, and continually making new converts to the faith he had once so zealously opposed. Paul demonstrated to all who heard him that his change of faith was not from impulse nor fanaticism, but was brought about by overwhelming evidence.{LP 33.1}

Jøderne var fuldstændigt overrasket og forbløffet over Paulus omvendelse. De var klar over hans position i Jerusalem, og vidste at hans hovedæriende var for Damaskus, og at han var bevæbnet med en opgave fra ypperstepræsten, der bemyndigede ham til at tage de troende i Jesus, og sende dem som fanger til Jerusalem; alligevel så de ham nu forkynde Kristi evangelium, styrke dem som allerede var dets disciple, og hele tiden gøre nyomvendte i troen, som han tidligere hade modsat sig så nidkært. Paulus demonstrerede for alle der hørte ham, at hans trosændring ikke kom af impulser eller fanatisme, men blev fremkaldt af overvældende beviser.