A large, prosperous commercial city located on the Cydnus River about ten miles from the Mediterranean Sea on the southeastern coast of Asia Minor. The author of Acts understood Paul to be a citizen and native of Tarsus (Acts 9:11; Acts 21:39; Acts 22:3) and thus a Jew of the Dispersion (i.e., who lived outside Palestine). As a Jew of Tarsus, Paul would have been reared in a non-Jewish environment and would have spoken the common language of the Roman Empire, Greek.
Acts 9:11
11The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is prayin ... View more
Acts 21:39
39Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.”
Acts 22:3
3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous fo ... View more
