Holy Bible - Obsidian Study Guide

Antioch (Syria)

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Antioch (Syria)

Overview

  • Testament: New
  • Region: Syria, northern Mediterranean
  • Key Books: Acts, Galatians
  • Summary: Third-largest city of the Roman Empire; the church at Antioch was the first to be called “Christians”; the base of all three of Paul’s missionary journeys; second city of the early church after Jerusalem.

Profile

Antioch on the Orontes (modern Antakya in southern Turkey) was the capital of the Roman province of Syria and the third-largest city in the Empire, behind only Rome and Alexandria. Its population of approximately five hundred thousand was cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic, and commercially dynamic — a natural environment for a cross-cultural church. It stood at a crucial junction of trade routes linking the eastern Mediterranean world, giving any missionary enterprise based there access to the entire Roman imperial network.

The church at Antioch was born from the scattering of Jerusalem believers after Stephen’s Martyrdom. Unnamed disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch and preached the Lord Jesus to Greeks — the first deliberate Gentile evangelism reported in Acts (Acts 11:20). The result was so significant that the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to investigate; “when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad” (Acts 11:23) and remained to teach. Barnabas sought out Paul (Apostle) from Tarsus and brought him to Antioch, where they taught together for a whole year. It was here, in Acts 11:26, that the disciples were “called Christians first in Antioch” — a name probably coined by outsiders observing this distinctive community.

Antioch became the launching pad for the entire Gentile mission. All three of Paul’s missionary journeys began and ended here. The commissioning of Barnabas and Saul by the Holy Spirit during worship (Acts 13:2-3) is one of the most important events in church history. It was also at Antioch that the circumcision controversy erupted — men from Jerusalem insisting on Mosaic observance for Gentile converts — leading to the delegation to Jerusalem that resulted in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). Paul’s account in Galatians 2 records that he “withstood” Peter to his face at Antioch when Peter withdrew from eating with Gentiles under pressure from Jerusalem emissaries — indicating that Antioch was a contested frontier of Jewish-Gentile Christian fellowship.

Key Events

Key Verses

“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” — Acts 11:26

“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” — Acts 13:2

Cross-References

  • Jerusalem — the mother church; sent Barnabas to Antioch; received delegations from Antioch
  • Paul (Apostle) — based at Antioch between journeys
  • Barnabas — first leader of the Antioch church after its founding
  • Acts — Acts 11-18 traces Antioch’s central role in early Christian mission

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