Place · Bible dictionary
Antioch
A great Syrian city where Jesus' followers were first called «Christians» — the launching pad for Paul's missionary journeys to the Roman world.
Antioch on the Orontes was the third-largest city of the Roman Empire. After persecution scattered believers from Jerusalem, the gospel reached Antioch, where many Greeks believed. The Jerusalem church sent Barnabas, who brought in Saul (Paul).
Acts 11:26 notes that «in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.» It became the church that sent Paul on his missionary journeys — a model of a sending congregation.
Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)
Acts 11:26 “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.” Acts 13:1 “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.”
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Original BibleDawn entry. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.