“Born in Tarsus of Cilicia” (Acts 22:3)
“Born in Tarsus of Cilicia” (Acts 22:3)
Tarsus was the major city in Cilicia, a region in the extreme southeastern part of Asia Minor. 1In Paul’s day, the city was the capital of the Roman province Syria-Cilicia (see Gal. 1:21). It was prosperous, privileged (it was exempt from Roman taxation), and cultured, being famous for its schools. 2Not only was Paul born in Tarsus, he was a citizen of this "no ordinary city” (Acts 21:39).
More important, however, was the fact that Paul was a citizen of Rome. The Romans did not confer citizenship on just anyone; only a small percentage of people who lived within the Roman Empire possessed this privilege. Paul’s Roman citizenship was inherited from his family (Paul claims, "I was born a citizen” [Acts 22:28]), perhaps because of some deed of service performed by his father or grandfather for the Romans. 3However achieved, Paul’s Roman citizenship was an important and providential qualification for his role as missionary to the Roman Empire. It enabled him to escape detainment when his preaching brought disfavor (Acts 16:37-39), to avoid punishment (Acts 22:23-29), and to plead his case before the emperor’s court in Rome (Acts 25:10-12).
As a Roman citizen, Paul had three names: a first name (praenomen), family name (nomen), and surname (cognomen). Of these, we know only his cognomen, Παύλος (Paulos, G4263). Paul’s native town may also have led him into his trade. A local product, cilicium, was used to make tents, and Luke tells us that Paul was himself a "tentmaker” (Acts 18:3). 4This is presumably the trade that Paul pursued during his missionary work in order not to burden the churches with his support (e.g., 1 Thess. 2:9).