Syria · NT
Antioch
The Syrian city where disciples were first called Christians and from which Paul launched his missionary journeys.
Today: Antakya, Turkey
Antioch on the Orontes was the third largest city of the Roman Empire after Rome and Alexandria, founded by Seleucus I in 300 BC and serving as the capital of the Roman province of Syria. Set about fifteen miles inland from the Mediterranean, it was a cosmopolitan crossroads of Greek, Syrian, Roman, and Jewish populations.
Antioch became the launching pad of Gentile Christianity. Believers scattered by the persecution after Stephen's death first preached to Greeks there, and 'a great number who believed turned to the Lord.' Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem to investigate and recruited Saul from Tarsus. 'In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians' (Acts 11:26). It was from Antioch that the church sent out Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey.
Key verses
"They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord."
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"and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
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"Now there were at Antioch, in the church that wasthere, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."
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"But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned."
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