Tarsus is on the Mediterranean edge of the Persian empire. Paul would have been a Roman citizen because Rome made all citizens of Tarsus Roman citizens. Cleopatra and Mark Anthony met here and was the scene of the celebrated feasts they gave during the construction of their fleet (41 BC). It would have been a town that was in love with Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. They would had recently seen Caesar killed, and his young son presumed dead. They would also have been the town where the central battle against Augustus would come from.
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Paul the Apostle, also called the Apostle Paul, Saul of Tarsus, and Saint Paul (c. AD 5 – c. AD 67),[
It is generally considered that the death of Jesus Christ was between 26 and 36 AD under the reign of Tiberius, the successor of Augustus.
" The birthplace of Saint Paul is Tarsus that was capital of the province of Cilicia, scene of the romance between Mark Anthony and Cleopatra.
Born under the name Saul, "an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, circumcised on the eighth day" (Philippians 3:5). However, Paul's own letters never mention this as his birthplace, nor is the name "Saul" alluded to. Acts records that Paul was a Roman citizen — a privilege he used a number of times in his defense, appealing against convictions in Judea to Rome (Acts 22:25 and Acts 27–28).
He described himself as a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5). He supported himself during his travels and while preaching — a fact he alludes to a number of times (e.g., 1 Cor. 9:13-15). According to Acts 18:3 he worked as a tentmaker"