In the beginning there was Saul.Saul of Tarsus.

Let me tell you a little bit about Tarsus.

It was a seaport city with Greek influence, governed  by trhe Romans.  A cosmopolitan city, with a mix of people from all different countries.  It was a city that hummed with commerce.

Like his namesake, Saul, first King of Israel,he was a member of the Tribe of Benjamin.

In the beginning, when the tribes of Israel settled in the Promised Land, Benjamin served as a buffer between Judah and the other tribes of the north.  But, gradually, Judah absorbed Benjamin, as it increased in power, along with the Tribe of Simon.

So Saul was a Jew. 

Saul's father was a tent maker, and following tradition among the Jews, Saul apprenticed under him and became a succesful tent maker in his own right.  This caused him to interact with those other than Jews who sought his services, while maintaing proper decorum as an ardent Jew.

Saul was Roman citizen, probably due to his avocation, making tents for the Roman army.

 In order to understand what an honor this was, think of being  an citizen of America, with all the benefits that accrue to those who reside there.  Now, multiply that by a thousand, and you get a small idea of what it meant to be a citizen of Rome.

In the event you were to be tried for some crime, you could demand to be tried by Caesar, passing over all legal procedures  in between.  That would be like being tried by the President, even bypassing the Supreme Court. 

Another  major advantage Saul enjoyed , is that he could cross borders with impunity..no passport or visaa required.

Saul left Tarsus probably in his early teens to study the Law in Jersualem, the Holy city.

He studied under the master of the Law, Gamaliel, providing him with an unequaled understanding of  the Law, and an appreciation of the Prophets and the history of his people.

He was then  prepared  for his future as a member of the Sanhedrin and a Pharisee..the elite among the Jews..paulnbob