Note 2 at Acts 8:3: Saul's actions show a total rejection of Jesus and His followers, but that does not mean he was not under conviction. On the contrary, the Lord said to him in Acts 9:5 that it was hard for him to resist the conviction. The Holy Ghost was already dealing with Saul.

The conviction of the Holy Ghost upon a person's life will always produce a reaction, but not necessarily a positive one. Many times those who protest the loudest are the ones who were convicted the most (see note 6 at Acts 5:28, p. 598). Don't be discouraged by a negative response to the gospel. That is a sure sign that they got the message.