Damascus

• Primary regionNeighboring Nations
• TimelineDivided Kingdom, Early Church
• Key texts1 Kings 20; Isaiah 7; Acts 9:1–25; 2 Corinthians 11:32–33
• Covered in classSession 7, Session 8

What the sources say, and how sure we are

• The text says

  Damascus is the capital of Aram and Israel’s northern rival. Centuries later, Paul meets the risen Jesus near the city and is baptized there, then escapes through a window in the wall.1 Kgs 20; 2 Kgs 16:9; Acts 9:1–25; 2 Cor 11:32–33

• Outside evidence

  Assyria’s Tiglath-pileser III conquered Damascus in 732 BC, as 2 Kings 16:9 says. The Tel Dan inscription is an Aramaean record of the same wider region.Tel Dan Stele

• Debated

  Paul says that “the governor under King Aretas” guarded Damascus. Scholars debate how the Nabataean king Aretas IV held authority over the city.2 Cor 11:32

Related

• Paul