According to Acts, the apostle Paul was born in Tarsus. Acts 22:3 describes Paul as a Jew born in Tarsus of Cilicia, a major city in southeastern Asia Minor, in modern-day Turkey.
Paul also identified himself as a Roman citizen. His citizenship became important in Acts when he challenged officials who had treated him unlawfully. Tarsus was known as a center of education and culture, and Paul’s letters show familiarity with Jewish Scripture and the wider Greek-speaking world.
Tarsus should not be confused with Paul’s missionary destinations. He traveled through cities such as Antioch, Philippi, Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome, but Acts identifies Tarsus as his birthplace. The city also appears when believers bring Paul there after opposition in Jerusalem.
Paul is traditionally regarded as the author of several New Testament letters, including Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Galatians. His birthplace is stated directly in Acts rather than inferred from his later missionary work.