In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
Ver. 32. In Damascus] The chief city of Syria, built (say some) in the place where the blood of Abel was spilt, and thence called Damesek, i.e. a bag of blood. Thither Paul marched with a bloody mind, but was miraculously converted, and so powerfully confounded his countrymen there, that they incensed the governor against him, to his great peril. That is the guise of godless persecutors, to attempt that against the truth by arms that they cannot effect by arguments. SeeActs 9:23,24 .