The persecution in Jerusalem and Judea continues. Saul of Tarsus is on a mission to round up as many Christians as possible. He requests and receives approval from the chief priests to go to Damascus to round up Christians there.
Specifically, he requested letters from the chief priests. Presumably, this refers to letters of introduction from the chief priests to the Jews living in Damascus. This would mean his mission to Damascus is under the authority of the priests in Jerusalem.
Side note, the Bible refers to Christians as the followers of "Way" in Acts 9:2.
He is on the road to Damascus when he sees a bright light from heaven. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute men?".
Saul asks, "Who are you?"
The voice replies, "I am Jesus, whom you persecute. Get up and go to the city where you will be told what to do."
Saul got up, opens his eyes, and is now blind. Saul's traveling companions heard the voice, but see no one.
I think it is popularly conceptualized that Saul saw Jesus here, but the text is silent about an appearance of Jesus by Saul. Saul saw a light from heaven. A few verses down, we find out his eyes are closed and he is now blind. So, it seems the light blinded him. Although the others with him, heard the voice speaking, no one else seems to have noticed the blinding light.
Perhaps Jesus did in fact appear to Saul, but it is not stated here.
Saul is led to Damascus by his companions and is taken to the home of a man named Judas in Damascus. This particular Judas may have been part of the anti-Christian militia group that Saul was leading.
Meanwhile, God speaks to a believer named Ananias in Damascus. God tells Ananias to go to the home of Judas, find Saul, and pray for his sight. Ananias is reluctant because Saul is a renowned anti-Christian, but follows God's instructions. He finds Saul, prays for him, and Saul receives his sight back. Like I said, it may have been unsafe for Ananias to be at the home of Judas if Saul is still surrounded by the anti-Christian militia group.
Saul stays with the disciples in Damascus and astonishes everyone, including the Jews. Eventually, the Jews decide to kill Saul. Saul hears of this plan and sneaks out of the city in a basket lowed through a hole in the city wall.
He goes to Jerusalem where the Christian community is reluctant to meet with him. Finally, Barnabas meets with Saul and brings him back to the others. Saul stays in Jerusalem, sharing his story, and the Jews again try to kill him. Finally, the Christians send him back to Tarsus to get out of danger.
At this, the church experiences a time of peace and prosperity. It helps a lot that one of the main persecutors has not only stopped persecuting, but has gone over to the "Way". The violence appears to be directed at Saul anyway.
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