Reference: Antioch in Syria
Morish
An'tioch in Syria
This is memorable in the annals of the church as the city where the disciples were first called Christians, Where an assembly of Gentiles was gathered, and from which Paul and his companions went forth on their missionary journeys, and to which they twice returned. It formed a centre for their labours among the Gentiles, outside the Jewish influence which prevailed at Jerusalem; yet the church in this city maintained its fellowship with the assembly at Jerusalem and elsewhere. Ac 6:5; 11:19-30; 13:1; 14:26; 15:22-35; 18:22; Ga 2:11.
Antioch was once a flourishing and populous city, the capital of Northern Syria, founded by Seleueus Nicator, B.C. 300, in honour of his father Antiochus. It was afterwards adorned by Roman emperors, and was esteemed the third city was eventually the seat of the Roman proconsul of Syria. It stood on a beautiful spot on the river Orontes, where it breaks through between the mountains Taurus and Lebanon. It is now called Antakia 36 12', 36 10' E. It has suffered from wars and earthquakes, and is now a miserable place. Comparatively few antiquities of the ancient city are to be found, but parts of its wall appear on the crags of Mount Silpius.
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And this saying was very agreeable to all the multitude: and they elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas a proselyte a man of Antioch:
Now those also who were dispersed by the persecution which arose on account of Stephen passed on as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no man except the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they arrived at Antioch, spake to the Grecian proselytes, preaching the Lord Jesus. read more. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a vast multitude believing, turned to the Lord. And the report concerning them was heard in the ears of the church which was at Jerusalem: and they dispatched Barnabas, to go as far as Antioch. Who, when he arrived there, and beheld the grace of God, rejoiced, and exhorted them all, with full purpose of heart to adhere to the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and a great multitude was added to the Lord. Then went forth Barnabas to Tarsus, in search of Saul: and having found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that during a whole year they were jointly employed in that church, and taught a vast multitude, and they called for the first time in Antioch the disciples Christians. Now there came down in those days prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the spirit that a great famine was coming upon the whole habitable globe: which also came in the reign of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, as everyman had ability, determined every individual of them to send a sum to be distributed among the brethren who dwelt in Judea: which also they did, sending it off to the presbyters by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
NOW there were at Antioch, according to the established church, prophets and teachers; such as Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger the black, and Lucius a Cyrenian, and Manaen, Herod the tetrarch's foster-brother, and Saul.
and thence sailed for Antioch, from whence they had been commended to the grace of God for the service which they had performed.
Then it was determined by the apostles and presbyters with the whole church, to send select men from themselves unto Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren; writing a letter by their hand, in these words: The apostles and presbyters and the brethren, to the brethren from among the Gentiles which are at Antioch, and in Syria, and Cilicia, greeting: read more. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain persons who went out from us have disturbed you with discourses, unsettling your minds, insisting, that you should be circumcised, and observe the law: to whom we gave no such charge: it hath seemed fit to us, assembled unanimously, to send unto you select men with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, and they by word of mouth will tell you the same things. For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no other burden except these things which are of absolute necessity; that ye abstain from eating whatever is sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from whoredom: from which things carefully preserving yourselves, ye shall do well. Farewell. They then being thus dispatched, came to Antioch: and assembling the multitude, they delivered the letter: and when they had read it, they rejoiced in the consolation [of it]. Then Judas and Silas, being also themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren, in many a discourse, and established them. And having stayed their time, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren to the apostles. However Silas thought proper to abide there. Paul also and Barnabas abode at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others also, the word of the Lord.
And landing at Cesarea, he went up, and having saluted the church [at Jerusalem], he went down to Antioch.
But when Peter came to Antioch I withstood him to his face, because he was blameable.