THE CITY OF TARSUS, LOOKING NORTHEAST TOWARD THE TAURUS MOUNTAINS. THE AMERICAN COLLEGE IS IN THE FOREGROUND.
Copyright by Underwood & Underwood and used by special permission.
Tarsus was a Roman metropolis with all the distinctions and privileges which the name implied. It was beautifully situated. The broad river Cydnus, breaking through a cleft in the Taurus Mountains, fell in a wide cascade to the plain, and flowed clear and cold from its mountain snows through the city. At evening the people used to gather in their roof gardens on the housetops to watch the setting sun as it turned the snowy summit of the mountain chain into rose and filled the valley with golden mist. But beauty of situation was not the only source of civic pride. Tarsus was a rich and influential center of trade, and it maintained its importance by the most lavish municipal expenditure, by what we moderns call enterprise and push.
When Paul as a boy wandered down to the wharves to see the sights, to listen to the sounds of the sailors and the ships, and to breathe that indefinable atmosphere of the sea which is so fascinating to the growing lad, he could not fail to admire those great stone basins and quays which made Tarsus a seaport in spite of the treacherous sands of the rapid river.
And after many days, the Jews took counsel together to kill him: but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night that they might kill him: but his friends took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
And when he was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spoke and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they went about to kill him. And when the brethren knew it they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being built up; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.
And some time after, Barnabas went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul: and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.