Change

Acts 9: 31

“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”

Then, after Saul had gone, peace came.
The threats stopped because Saul was gone.
The Church became stronger, grew larger and was generally in better shape and all this happened after Saul had gone.
Does this mean that sometimes when a significant person is removed then the season changes? That can be so true. But in this situation we would be presuming at the best.
Persecution stopped probably because of Saul’s conversion for he was the main instigator of clamping down on the Christians.
Secondly, yes he was sent away and his straight talking debating stopped and this also reduced the persecution.
But thirdly, maybe it was just other distractions that were happening in the nation that meant the Jews didn’t chase the Christians so much. Some of the historians agree together that the nation at that time was itself coming under threat from at least Egypt but also other enemies. People began to think more of the safety of their own nation and its future and their attention came off the Christians.
It would appear then that God may allow a nation to be shaken, to be changed politically, financially, culturally and for the sole purpose of His Church, to give it the freedom to grow and expand. So now ask yourself what has been happening in your nation? Any change?!! It could be leading to a move of the Holy Spirit upon the Church.