Antioch, a city in Syria where the gospel first reached Gentiles and the believers were first called Christians.
Also known as Antiochian
Antioch, located in Syria, was a significant city in the early spread of Christianity. After the persecution that followed Stephen's martyrdom, some believers from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch and preached the gospel to the Hellenists (Greeks) there (Act.11.19-20). The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch, who encouraged the believers and brought Saul (Paul) there to teach (Act.11.22-26).
It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians (Act.11.26). The city became a hub for missionary activity, with Paul and Barnabas being sent out from Antioch on their first missionary journey (Act.13.1-3; 14:26). The church in Antioch also played a crucial role in the Jerusalem Council, which addressed the issue of Gentile believers and the Mosaic Law (Act.15.1-35).
Antioch was the home church of several notable figures, including the prophet Agabus (Act.11.27-28) and the evangelist Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch (Act.6.5). The apostle Peter visited Antioch, where Paul confronted him about his inconsistent behavior regarding Gentile believers (Galatians 2:11-14).
The church in Antioch became a model of a multicultural, mission-oriented congregation, demonstrating the power of the gospel to transcend cultural barriers and unite believers in Christ. Its strategic location and the fervor of its believers made Antioch a launching pad for the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
Approximate location: 36.202, 36.162 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
14 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G0490
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed.
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.
But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.
When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.