In the first century, the city of Antioch was the ministry home base and launching site for the apostle Paul on his early missionary journeys. As a refuge for persecuted believers, Antioch also produced one of the most vibrant and diverse churches of the first century. It was here that the earliest followers of Jesus Christ were referred to as “Christians” for the first time, a name that has been applied to faithful believers and those belonging to Christ ever since.
Where Was Antioch in the Bible?
The first-century city of Antioch, first mentioned in the Bible in the book of Acts, was one of the largest cities in the entire Roman Empire, second only to Alexandria (in Egypt) and Rome itself. Situated on the Orontes River in the Roman province of Syria, Antioch was located 20 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea and 300 miles north of Jerusalem. Given its proximity to the Mediterranean and position at the intersection of key trade routes, Syrian Antioch became one of the most vibrant and economically prosperous cities of the Roman Empire, boasting a population of roughly 100,000 to 300,000 residents, which included a sizable Jewish population.
The city of Antioch was founded near the end of the 4th century in 300 B.C. by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great’s generals. After Alexander’s death in 323 B.C., the Macedonian’s conquered territory was divided amongst his generals. Seleucus I, who inherited Syria following the Battle of Ipsos in 301 B.C., proceeded to establish four cities in northwestern Syria, one of which became the city of Antioch.
Believed to have been named after either his father or son, Antioch comes from Greek word antiokhos, meaning “resistant” or “holding fast.” It is possible that Seleucus I gave the name to multiple cities in the region. Syrian Antioch, however, quickly became the largest and most prominent city of its name.
Syrian Antioch would eventually come under Roman control in 64 B.C, remaining a free city. Just prior to the turn of the century, the Roman emperors took a liking to Antioch, favoring it over the larger but more isolated city of Alexandria, as the capital of the eastern Roman Empire. Given its location, Antioch proved to be a valuable commercial junction for trade throughout the region and a critical outpost for Rome’s expansion to the east.
As it turns out, Syrian Antioch would also play an important role in the foundation of the early church, as recorded in the book of Acts.
Why Was Antioch Important for Early Christians?
The city of Antioch is first mentioned in the sixth chapter of the book of Acts. Here, several faithful believers had been chosen by the church in Jerusalem to serve as deacons in local ministry (see Acts 6:1-7). Among them were “Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas, a proselyte [Gentile convert], from Antioch” (Acts 6:5; emphasis added).
Shortly after the commission of the seven, Stephen was martyred for his faith in Jerusalem (see Acts 6:8-7:60). Following Stephen’s death, the believers of Jerusalem and Judea were subject to immense persecution at the hands of the Pharisees and unbelieving Jewish leaders of Jerusalem. In response, many of the brethren went into hiding, scattered, or fled Jerusalem entirely. Some, the Bible tells us, “made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.” (see Acts 11:19; emphasis added)
However, believers from Cyprus and Cyrene would also come to Antioch and begin preaching the gospel to Greeks also, “preaching the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 11:20). As a result, the gospel quickly spread throughout the city of Antioch; and the church, compromised of both Jews and Gentile converts, grew rapidly. “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21)
The church in Antioch would grow in such size and influence, Luke records that, “the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” (Acts 11:22-34)
Having witnessed the faith and fervor of the church in Antioch, Barnabas found it necessary to continue his ministry in the city. He then traveled to Tarsus to seek out the newly converted Saul (later known as the apostle Paul) and bring him to Antioch (see Acts 11:25). “And for an entire year they (Barnabas and Paul) met with the church and taught considerable numbers.” (Acts 11:26)
The spread of Christianity in Antioch became a spiritual movement that rocked the city. The Bible even tells us “the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26b; emphasis added).
Ironically, this name was probably given by Gentiles in Antioch as a mocking or dismissive nickname for the growing “followers of Christ” or “those belonging to Christ.” Unbelieving Jews, who had rejected Jesus as their Messiah, would have never referred to His followers as Christians until the term had become more widely established. Doing so would have begrudgingly ascribed to Jesus of Nazareth “Christ” or “Messiah” status, something the religious leaders of Israel refused to do (see John 19:19-22)
Early on, followers of Jesus may have also been hesitant to call themselves Christians, choosing instead to refer to themselves as “brethren” (see Acts 15:1; 1 Corinthians 16:20), “disciples” (Acts 11:26; 14:24), “saints” (Acts 9:13; 2 Corinthians 13:13) or “those who belonged to the Way” or “people of the Way” (Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9; 24:22).
The apostle Peter, however, later encouraged believers not to be ashamed of being called Christians or “those belonging to Christ," reminding his fellow disciples that it was actually an honor to be called a “follower of Christ” and share His name: “but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” (1 Peter 4:16)
In any case, the Christians population of Antioch continued to grow, and the scope of the ministry of its key leaders continued to expand throughout the region. In fact, for several years, the city of Syrian Antioch served as a home base for Barnabas and Paul and a launching site for future missionary journeys (see Acts 13:1-3; 15:32-33; 36-40; 18:22-23).
Early Controversy in the Church at Antioch
However, shortly after Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missionary journey, Antioch would also play host to an important controversy of the early church.
At the time, a group of former Pharisees in Antioch began to teach that Gentile believers must be circumcised and convert to Judaism before becoming followers of Christ, arguing, “unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1) This group later became known as the Judaizers (see Galatians 2:14).
Having returned to Antioch from their mission to the Gentiles in Asia Minor, Paul and Barnabas strongly fought against this doctrine, vehemently challenging those who spread it (Acts 15:2). As a result, the two missionaries were eventually sent to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders on the question, “it is necessary to circumcise them (Gentile converts) and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses?” (Acts 15:5)
In Jerusalem, the apostles and elders debated the issue.
During the Council of Jerusalem, Peter then recounted his ministry to the Gentiles while reiterating the church’s divine mission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to all peoples (Acts 15:7). “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:8-9)
Peter continued, “Now therefore, why do you put God to the test by placing upon the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the same way as they also are.” (Acts 15:10-11)
James, the half-brother of Jesus and head of the church in Jerusalem, agreed with Peter, citing Old Testament Scripture that supported God’s heart of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles (ref: Acts 15:1-18).
The Council of Jerusalem had therein produced one of the most significant declarations of the early church, affirming the core doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone (see Galatians 2:16, 21; Romans 3:23-24).
In response to the council’s decision, Paul and Barnabas were chosen, along with Judas called Barsabas and Silas, to deliver a letter from the apostles to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia (see Acts 15:23-29). There, in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas continued to minister, teach, and preach while branching out to preach the gospel to the surrounding regions (see Acts 15:35).
Later, a prophet from Jerusalem named Agabus twice came to Antioch, once to foretell of a coming famine that would affect the local church and later to offer a glimpse of the things to come in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul (see Acts 11:28; 21:10).
In Antioch, Paul also rebuked Peter for gradually distancing himself the Gentile believers to fellowship with the Judaizers (see Galatians 2:11-14). Out of fear of losing his popularity and the support of other Jewish believers, Peter had given the appearance of support for the Judaizers’ position, seemingly walking back his previous commitment to the Gentiles and the doctrine of salvation by grace alone.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote that he had publicly confronted Peter on his hypocrisy and show of favoritism: “if you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews,” Paul argued, “how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:14)
Peter apparently repented and even acknowledged Paul’s righteous rebuke of his hypocrisy, as evident in his affirmation of Paul’s apostolic authority in his second letter (2 Peter 3:15-16).
Are There Two Antiochs in the Bible?
The city of Syrian Antioch, however, is not the only Antioch mentioned in the Bible. In fact, it is believed that Seleucus I Nicator may have historically given the name Antioch to as many as sixteen other cities and settlements in the region he inherited following the Battle of Ipsos in 301 B.C.
Syrian Antioch was unquestionably the largest and most prominent Antioch of the first century. However, the apostle Paul and his companions would also visit another city named Antioch on their first mission journey (Acts 13:14-44).
This city, known as Pisidian Antioch, was situated between the districts of Phrygia and Pisidia in Asia Minor. Located west of Iconium on a plateau near the western banks of the Anthios River, Pisidian Antioch had most likely been colonized by Greeks under Seleucus Nicator. As the military and administrative center of Galatia, Pisidian Antioch was an important stop in Paul’s first missionary journey to the region (Acts 13:1-14:28).
In the book of Acts, Luke records that the Holy Spirit had spoken to the leaders of the church in Syrian Antioch, calling Barnabas and Saul (Paul) to be “set apart for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2)
After praying, fasting, and laying hands on Barnabas and Paul, the brethren in Syrian Antioch sent the two missionaries, along with John Mark, on a journey west to preach the gospel throughout Asia Minor (Acts 13:3-4).
Being led by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Paul departed from Syria, sailing southwest to Salamis on the island of Cyprus before traveling to the city of Paphos (Acts 13:4-12). From there, they sailed to Perga in the region of Pamphylia in Asia Minor before heading north to the city of Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:13-14).
As was often their custom, Paul and Barnabas first began preaching in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch to a primarily Jewish audience, many of whom were eager to hear what Paul and Barnabas had to say. (Acts 13:14-44). However, it did not take long for powerful Jewish leaders in Pisidian Antioch to learn of Paul and Barnabas’ ministry and become jealous of their growing influence.
The next Sabbath, when nearly the entire city came to hear Paul and Barnabas preach, the Jewish leaders of Pisidian Antioch publicly opposed the two missionaries, slandering them in front of the crowd (Acts 13:44-45). Here, Luke writes that Paul and Barnabas turned their attention to the Gentiles and those more receptive to the gospel (Acts 14:46-48).
Nevertheless, those opposed to Paul and Barnabas continued to incite the people of Pisidian Antioch against the two missionaries, instigating a persecution that ultimately drove them from the city (see Acts 14:48-50). In response, Paul and Barnabas followed the teachings of Jesus by “shaking off the dust of their feet in protest” as they left the city (Acts 13:51; see Mark 6:11).
From here, Paul and Barnabas made their way to Iconium in Galatia and then the nearby cities of Lystra and Derbe (Acts 14:1-7).
In Lystra, the same hostile Jews from Pisidian Antioch would again come against Paul, partnering with unbelieving Jews of Lystra to have Paul stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead (Acts 14:19-20). By the grace of God, Paul would survive this ordeal and continue his ministry.
After recovering, Paul would travel with Barnabas back through Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch, “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and teaching, ‘through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.’” (Acts 14:21-22).
From here, the two missionaries began the return journey back to Syrian Antioch, their home base. Here, according to the book of Acts, “they gathered the church together and began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:27)
These were the events that preceded Paul and Barnabas’ eventual journey to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles at the Council of Jerusalem on the topic of Gentile circumcision (see Acts 15).
What Is the Name of Antioch Today?
Like many ancient cities, what is left of the city of Syrian Antioch is mostly buried beneath the sands of time and sediment of the Orontes River in the present-day nation of Turkey near the border of Syria. Few traces of the Roman city of Paul’s day remain in what is now the city Antakya in the Hatay Province of Turkey. Only remnants of Antioch’s exterior walls, several aqueducts, and the Church of St. Peter, believed to be built at a location where the early church of Antioch met during the first century, still exist today.
As expected, much has changed in and around the city of Antioch in the last two thousand years. Many wars have been won and lost for control of the region, various empires and kingdoms have come and gone, and countless people groups have made the city of Antioch their home over the centuries. Although most of the walls, buildings, and structures of first-century Antioch are now gone, to the church, the legacy of Antioch endures through the ministry of those first called the followers of Jesus Christ and the faith of all who are unashamed to belong to Christ and proclaim His gospel to all peoples.
Additional Resources:
5 Powerful Lessons from Paul’s First Missionary Journey
What Made Saul of Tarsus One of the First Missionaries?
What Christians Should Know About Barnabas in the Bible
What the Prophet Agabus in Acts Teaches Believers Today
What Does it Mean to Say “I Am a Christian”?
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