Damascus, first of all, is ancient and it has always been a trade center..3 trade routes, , one  to Arabia, the second crosses over the desert to Baghdad, and the third to the Mediterranean seacoast and Egypt (the "Road to Damascus"). It was one of the 10 cities that made up the Decapolis. In Saul's time it was ruled by Rome.   

I was unable to find any  popluation estimates of the city in the First Century, but it was a cosmopolitan city, certainly larger than Jerusalem.  Since the time of the Diaspora, the city was inhabited by many Jews, in addition to those followers of Jesus,  who sought refuge  from persecution, the very ones that Saul was sent to drag  back to Jerusalem.

Saul had "letters", no doubt approved by Roman authority, authorizing him to undertake his mission, obviously a great honor bestode upon him by the high priest.

But, due to THE "miracle", Saul was blind, and  led into the city, by those who accompanied him. He was  obviously unable to perform his duties, so they probably obtained lodging for him somewhere on Straight St and left him.

 Here he was met by Ananias (Must've been a popluar name, for the high priest also had this name), one of the followers of Jesus,  chosen by the Lord to go to Saul, lay hands on him and restore his sight. Ananias did so, reluctantly with great trepidation, due to Saul's well-earned reputation as the persecutor of "believers".

With his sight regained, Saul was zealously doing as he was told by Jesus, proclaiming in every synagogue he visited that Jesus is the Son of God.

He was a zealous defender of the "Law" and the old ways of the Jews, he would be no less zealous in his insistence that Jesus was indeed the Son of God..for he had proof!

Now, this didn't sit well with the Jews who believed that those making such claims were committing blasphemy and should be punished..the very reason for Saul's presence to begin with. They may have been reluctant, initially, to take action against him, because he did have the "letters" of authority from the high priest.

The followers of Jesus were confused, because the chief persecutor was suddeenly one of "them", but his actions were causing problems, exposing them.  They had been keeping a "low profile", worshipping in homes in secret, to avoid notice and persecution.

What to do with this "firebrand", who would not keep quiet and was endagering them all?

After  "many" days of listening to Saul zealously praising Jesus before who would ever listen, the "Jews" had enough (maybe having received word from the high priest) and plotted to kill Saul.

The "Jews of Jesus" convinced him that he was not safe,  and spirited him out of the city, by lowering him over the wall in a basket, while probably breathing a sigh of relief..bobnpaul