Antioch
A place in the Bible
A large city in Syria, north of the Holy Land. There, for the first time, the disciples were called Christians.
What happened here
- The first who were not Jews: some disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch and proclaimed Jesus to the Greeks as well. Many believed.
- Barnabas and Saul: the Church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch. He brought Saul, and they taught there for a whole year.
- The sending: in the Church at Antioch, the Holy Spirit asked them to set apart Saul and Barnabas for a mission. They laid hands on them and sent them off.
- The letter from Jerusalem: the apostles sent a letter to the brothers who were not Jews, in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
Today
Today it is the city of Antakya, in Turkey.
Where it appears in the Bible
Acts 11:20-21; Acts 11:22; Acts 11:25-26; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 15:22-23
What the Bible says
Acts 11:20-21
20But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were entered into Antioch, spoke also to the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believing, were converted to the Lord.
Acts 11:22
And the tidings came to the ears of the church that was at Jerusalem, touching these things: and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.
Acts 11:25-26
25And Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek Saul: whom, when he had found, he brought to Antioch. 26And they conversed there in the church a whole year; and they taught a great multitude, so that at Antioch the disciples were first named Christians.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Antioch”; Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), “Antioch”