Bede : But he set out for Tarsus to search for Saul. For it was said earlier that Saul would be secretly sent from Jerusalem to Tarsus. — Commentary on Acts John Chrysostom : "Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul." He came to the athletic wrestler, the general fit to lead armies, the champion of single combat, the lion - I am at a loss for words, say what I will - the hunting-dog, killer of lions, bull of strength, lamp of brightness, mouth sufficing for a world. — Homily on Acts 25 John Chrysostom : "Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus," etc. But why did he take him off from Tarsus and bring him here? Not without good reason; for here were both good hopes, and a greater city, and a great body of people. See how grace works all, not Paul: by small means the affair was taking its commencement. When it is become difficult the Apostles take it up. Why did they not before this send Barnabas? Because they had enough to do with Jerusalem. — Homily on Acts 25 Origen of Alexandria : Now it is good to read through the history what Jeremiah suffered among the people, in reference to whom he said, "I said: No more shall I speak or name the name of the Lord," and again elsewhere, "I have unceasingly been an object of derision." But whatever he also suffered at the hand of the reigning king of Israel has been written in his prophecy. But that those from among the people came frequently to stone even Moses has also been written, and the stones of that place were not his homeland, but those following him were, that is, the people, by whom he too was dishonored. And Isaiah is reported to have been cut up by the people. Now, if someone does not accept this report because it is found in the apocryphal Isaiah, let him believe in what is written in the letter to the Hebrews: "They were stoned, cut up, put to the test." The "cut up" is referred to Isaiah, just as the verse "they were murdered by the sword" applies to Zechariah, who was murdered "between the temple and the altar," as the Savior taught bearing witness, I believe, to a writing not contained in the shared and publicly accepted books but to one that is probably apocryphal. But they were dishonored by the Jews and went about "in sheepskins, in goatskins, impoverished, suffering tribulation" and the following. For "all who desire to live uprightly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." Now it is probably because he learned that a prophet cannot have honor "in his homeland," that Paul, having proclaimed the word in many other places, did not preach in Tarsus. — COMMENTARY ON Matthew 10.18