Acts 9:30 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

To Cesarea,— This must have been Caesarea Philippi, near the borders of Syria; as it may be collected from St. Paul's own words, that he went by land through the regions of Syria and Cilicia; see Galatians 1:21 otherwise he might easily have gone from the celebrated Caesarea on the Mediterranean sea, by ship, to Tarsus, his own native city; whither the brethren sent him, no doubt, that he might find protection among his friends and relations, and plant the gospelamong them. They possibly might not have heard of his former bigotry against the Christians; or, as the spiritual harvest of the Jews was not yet gathered in at Tarsus, as it had been some time ago at Jerusalem, there were hopes of better treatment and more success there. See on chap. Acts 8:40.