TARSUS, the capital City of Cilicia, and probably the same as Tarshish, mentioned in Scripture. We have spoke of it under Acts ix. 11. xxi. 39.Tarshish. St. Paul was a Native of Tarsus in Cilicia. Some think it obtained the Privileges of a Roman Colony because of its firm Adherence to Julius Cæsar; and this Privilege gave the Inhabitants the favour of being Citizens of Rome, which St. Paul enjoy’d by being born herein. Others mantain that Tarsus was only a free City, but not a Roman Colony, in the time of St. Paul; and that in the Medals no Footstep is found of this before the Reign of Caracalla or Heliogabalus; and therefore the Privilege of being a Citizen of Rome belonged to the Apostle, not barely as being a Denison of Tarsus, but by some personal Right that his Father or Ancestors had obtained. See the Commentators upon Acts xvi. 37.
Library / Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, Complete and Unabridged
Volume III · T
Tarsus
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Augustin Calmet, O.S.B., “Tarsus,” in Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, Complete and Unabridged, English translation, Mind of the Church, https://mindofthechurch.com/works/calmet-dictionary/t/tarsus/.