Lexical Summary Tarsos: Tarsus Original Word: Ταρσός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Tarsus. Perhaps the same as tarsos (a flat basket); Tarsus, a place in Asia Minor -- Tarsus. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition Tarsus, a city of Cilicia NASB Translation Tarsus (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5019: ΤαρσόςΤαρσός, Ταρσου, ἡ (on its accent cf. Chandler §§ 317, 318), in secular authors also Ταρσοι, ταρσῶν, αἱ, Tarsus, a maritime city, the capital of Cilicia during the Roman period (Josephus, Antiquities 1, 6, 1), situated on the river Cydnus, which divided it into two parts (hence, the plural Ταρσοι). It was not only large and populous, but also renowned for its Greek learning and its numerous schools of philosophers (Strabo 14, p. 613 (cf. Lightfoot on Colossians, p. 303f)). Moreover, it was a free city (Pliny, 5, 22), and exempt alike from the jurisdiction of a Roman governor, and the maintenance of a Roman garrison; although it was not a Roman 'colony'. It had received its freedom from Antony (Appendix, b. 104:5, 7) on the condition that it might retain its own magistrates and laws, but should acknowledge the Roman sovereignty and furnish auxiliaries in time of war. It is now called Tarso or Tersus, a mean city of some 6,000 inhabitants (others set the number very much higher). It was the birthplace of the apostle Paul: Acts 9:30; Acts 11:25; Acts 22:3. (BB. DD., under the word; Lewin, St. Paul, 1:78f cf. 2.) Tarsus lay on the fertile plain of Cilicia at the mouth of the Cydnus River, backed by the Taurus Mountains and facing the Mediterranean. The river provided a navigable link to the sea, making the city both a trading hub and a strategic military passage between Asia Minor and Syria. Under Roman rule it was granted civic privileges as a “free city,” enjoying a measure of autonomy that fostered civic pride among its inhabitants. Economic and Cultural Importance Situated on east-west caravan routes and blessed with rich agricultural hinterlands, Tarsus prospered through commerce in grain, timber, and the famed goat-hair cloth called cilicium—material Paul would later fashion into tents (Acts 18:3). The city’s university rivaled those of Athens and Alexandria, attracting Stoic philosophers and rhetoricians. Hellenistic, Semitic, and Roman influences blended in its streets, creating an environment in which a Jewish family like Paul’s could maintain synagogue life while engaging Greco-Roman society. Tarsus in the Book of Acts • Acts 22:3 identifies the city as Paul’s birthplace: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city.” Influence on the Apostle Paul 1. Cosmopolitan Formation: Exposure to multiple languages, philosophies, and religions equipped Paul to reason effectively with Jews in synagogues and Greeks in marketplaces (Acts 17:17). Tarsus and the Early Expansion of the Gospel Paul’s years in his home region (Galatians 1:21) likely saw evangelistic work throughout Cilicia, preparing congregations later addressed in the Jerusalem Council letter (Acts 15:23). When Barnabas retrieved him, Tarsus gave up its most famous son so that the Antioch church might be taught and the wider Gentile mission launched (Acts 11:26; 13:1-3). Archaeological and Historical Witness Ruins of Roman roads, bridges, and a theater attest to the city’s prosperity. Inscriptions confirming its status as “autonomous” corroborate Luke’s accuracy. Coins bearing the image of Augustus link to the imperial loyalty that won Tarsians their civic freedoms—background to Paul’s respectful yet discerning appeal to Caesar’s authority (Acts 25:11). Lessons for the Church Today • God sovereignly uses birthplace, culture, and vocation to prepare servants for unique gospel tasks. Tarsus thus stands in Scripture as more than a dot on a map: it is a testament to providence shaping a life that would carry the gospel “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47). Englishman's Concordance Acts 9:30 N-AFSGRK: αὐτὸν εἰς Ταρσόν NAS: and sent him away to Tarsus. KJV: forth to Tarsus. INT: him to Tarsus Acts 11:25 N-AFS Acts 22:3 N-DFS Strong's Greek 5019 |
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