Why didn't Saul/Paul arrest the apostles?

[chuckd]

Acts 8:1-3 there was a "great persecution against the church in Jerusalem" where Saul entered "house after house...committing them to prison", yet it seems the apostles were untouched.
Acts 9:1-2 he goes to Damascus to do the same while the apostles remained in Jerusalem.

Why didn't he arrest the apostles? Was there still a fear of them because of their popularity (Acts 5:26)?

 

[Contra_Mundum]

Earlier arrests did not dissuade the leaders, if anything making them martyrs. The lesser folk are typically thought to be more susceptible of intimidation. Attacking or breaking a movement is no small feat, especially after it has some momentum. And, the apostles had divine protection, besides any public popularity that might have insulated them a bit.

 

[Turner]

Worth considering that Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts 7 set off the wave of persecution. This could suggest the first focus was Jewish Christians like Stephen and Philip who spoke Greek and not the Apostles who spoke primarily Aramaic/Hebrew.