Acts 11:25

As the church in Antioch continued to grow, Barnabas and perhaps others sensed the need for Saul’s help. Consequently Barnabas set out to track him down in Tarsus, where Saul had gone (Acts 9:30). Saul was an ideal choice for this work since God had given him a special appointment to evangelize Gentiles (Acts 22:21). Moreover he had considerable experience in ministry already, probably about nine years of it since his conversion. [Note: See the appendix "Sequence of Paul’s Activities" at the end of these notes.]

Some Bible scholars have deduced that Saul’s family in Tarsus had disinherited him (cf. Philippians 3:8). Some also believe he endured some of the afflictions he described in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 while he ministered in and around Tarsus. These included persecution by the Jews, probably for trying to evangelize Gentiles. Furthermore some say he had the revelation to which he referred in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 while he was ministering near there. He was undoubtedly very active in missionary work around Tarsus during his residence there even though we have no record of it.