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Damascus is believed by many to be the oldest continuously occupied city in the world. It certainly predates the time of Abraham (see Genesis 14:15 and 15:2). Scholars are not certain, however, whether the Damascus of today is the exact locale of the city of the early second millennium BCE. Several tells with remains of ancient settlements are in the vicinity.

The Roman city's main street (the "Straight Street" of Acts 9:11) ran east-west, with columns along each side and two arches marking the entrances to the middle of town. The city featured a large temple dedicated to Jupiter, on the site of which was built a Christian church, and later still the mosque of today. Near the southeastern corner of the old city is the Chapel of St. Paul, which marks the traditional spot where Paul escaped over the city wall by being lowered in a basket (see Acts 9:23-25; 2 Cor. 11:32-33). Nearby is the house of Ananias, adjacent to where "Straight Street" exits through the eastern gate of the city. The Damascus of Paul's day was some eight feet below the level of the modern city streets.