The city of Tarsus, birthplace of the apostle Paul (Acts 21:39), was the capital of the Asia Minor province of Cilicia. The city was well-known for its culture of Greek philosophy and literature, so much so that at one time its schools and number of learned men rivaled those of Athens and Alexandria. Tarsus was also the place where Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony met for the first time. Modern Tarsus is located in the country of Turkey. Tarsus was made a FREE CITY by the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar as a reward for its exertions and sacrifices during Rome's civil wars. Free cities in the Roman empire were permitted to use their own laws, customs and magistrates. They were also free from being subject to Roman guards. Since Paul was born in a free city he was considered a Roman citizen with all its rights and privileges. Paul referred to Tarsus' perceived importance to Rome when he stated to a Roman commander "I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; . . . " (Acts 21:39, NKJV). Paul used his Roman citizenship to avoid being scourged by a centurion (Acts 22:25). It was against Roman law to bind and scourge an uncondemned Roman citizen. He used his rights as a Roman citizenship again when he appealed to have a case against him, started by the Jews, be heard by Caesar himself (Acts 25:10-12) Sources: Adam Clarke's Commentary of the Bible; Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible | 
