What does Acts 9:24 mean?

Saul is a Jewish man born in Tarsus, the capital of the Roman province of Cilicia. He was raised in Jerusalem under the tutelage of Gamaliel, one of the most honored Pharisees at the time (Acts 22:3). Saul's devotion to the Mosaic law drove him to lead a campaign against the very early church (Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–2). Much to his surprise, on his way to Damascus to arrest Jesus-followers and bring them to trial in Jerusalem, Saul meets the risen Jesus. Saul converts, becoming the thing he hated, and immediately puts his Pharisee training into practice by going to the synagogues and showing how Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the prophecies of the Jewish Messiah (Acts 9:1–22).

Taking 2 Corinthians 11:32–33 and Galatians 1:15–17 into consideration, it's apparent that Saul left Damascus at some point, and went into the Arabian wilderness, with a total span covering three years. It's thought he used this time to either refine his understanding of Christianity, or to study the relation between following Jesus and Judaism. It's unclear if Acts 9:23–25 records his first or second exit from Damascus.

Throughout Saul's ministry spreading the news about Jesus, he will make several close escapes. Among these, he will flee from Iconium (Acts 14:4–7), survive a stoning in Lystra (Acts 14:19), and be forced to leave Berea by his own people for his own safety (Acts 17:13–15). The Bible does not promise that we will always escape danger, even that which we encounter serving God. But God promises to give us what we need to fulfill the purposes He has for us. For Saul, that means escaping a city wall in a basket (Acts 9:25).