Paul now returned to Damascus, and preached boldly in the name of Jesus. The Jews could not withstand the wisdom of his arguments, and they therefore counseled together to silence his voice by force—the only argument left to a sinking cause. They decided to assassinate him. The apostle was made acquainted with their purpose. The gates of the city were vigilantly guarded, day and night, to cut off his escape. The anxiety of the disciples drew them to God in prayer; there was little sleeping among them, as they were busy in devising ways and means for the escape of the chosen apostle. Finally they conceived a plan by which he was let down from a window, and lowered over the wall in a basket at night. In this humiliating manner Paul made his escape from Damascus.{LP 34.2}

Paulus vendte tilbage til Damaskus, og forkyndte frimodigt i Jesu navn. Jøderne kunne ikke modsætte sig visdommen i hans argumenter, og de rådførte sig derfor med hinanden for at bringe hans røst til tavshed med magt - det eneste argument tilbage for en synkende sag. De besluttede at snigmyrde ham. Apostlen blev gjort bekendt med deres hensigt. Byens porte blev bevogtet meget nøje, dag og nat, for at han ikke skulle flygte. Disciplenes iver drev dem til Gud i bøn; iblandt dem var der lidt søvn, da de havde travlt med at finde veje og midler til de udvalgte apostles flugt. Til sidst havde fattet en plan hvor han kom ned fra et vindue, og firet over muren i en kurv om natten. På denne ydmyge måde flygtede Paulus fra Damaskus.