Antioch
- In Syria, capital of its Greek kings, and of its Roman governors subsequently. Built where Lebanon running N. and Taurus E., meet at a bend of the river Orontes; partly on an island, partly on the level left bank. Near it was Apollo's licentious sanctuary, Daphne. Nicolas the deacon was a proselyte of Antioch. The Christians dispersed by Stephen's martyrdom preached at Antioch to idolatrous Greeks, not "Grecians" or Greekspeaking Jews, according to the Alexandrine manuscript (Act 11:20; Act 11:26), whence a church having been formed under Barnabas and Paul's care, the disciples were first called "Christians" there. From Antioch their charity was sent by the hands of Barnabas and Saul to the brethren at Jerusalem suffering in the famine. Paul began his ministry systematically here. At Antioch Judaizers from Jerusalem disturbed the church (Act 15:1). Here Paul rebuked Peter for dissimulation (Gal 2:11-12). From Antioch Paul started on his first missionary journey (Act 13:1-3), and returned to it (Act 14:26). He began, after the Jerusalem decree, addressed to the Gentile converts at Antioch, and ended, his second missionary journey there (Act 15:36; Act 18:22-23). His third journey also began there. Ignatius was subsequently bishop there for forty years, down to his martyrdom A. D. 107. Antioch was founded by Seleucus Nicator, and Jews were given the same political privileges as Greeks. Antiochus Epiphanes formed a great colonnaded street intersecting it from one end to the other. Pompey made it a free city. The citizens were framed for scurrility and giving nick-names. "Christian" was probably a name of their invention, and not of the disciples' origination. (See CHRISTIAN) Now called Antakia, a poor mean place; some ancient walls remain on the crags of mount Silpius. A gateway still bears the name of Paul.
- ANTIOCH IN PISIDIA: Also founded by Seleucus Nicator. Made a colony by Rome; called also Caesarea. Now Yalobatch, on a high ridge. When Paul, on his first missionary tour with Barnabas, preached in the synagogue there, many Gentiles believed. The Jews therefore raised a persecution by the wealthy women of the place, and drove him from Antioch to Iconium, and followed him even to Lystra (Act 13:14; Act 13:50-51; Act 14:19; Act 14:21). On his return from Lystra he revisited Antioch to confirm the souls of the disciples amidst their tribulations. In 2Ti 3:11 he refers to Timothy's acquaintance with his trials at Antioch of Pisidia; and Timothy's own home was in the neighborhood (Act 16:1).
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Antioch
In Syria, under the Seleuciils, there appear to have been at least five places which at one time or another enjoyed this title : Hippos on the hills above the E. shore of the Lake of balilee ('A. tj irpis 'Iitttv), Gadara (of. Stephanus, De Urbibus ; Keland, Pal. 774), Gerasa in E. Gilead ('A. 4 'p^' ^v Xpwop^), all of them in the Decapolis, and perhaps also Acco or Ptoleraaia (Head, Mist. Num. 677); but the Antioch in Syria was A. on the Orontes, distinguished as 'A. i) irpis, or irl, Aatpf-u, and entitled nrp-piiroXis {ib. 056). Under an Eastern people like the Arabs, the natural capital of Syria is Damascus, on the borders of the Arabian desert. But when the Greeks poured into the land after Alexander, it was inevitable that they should establish the centre of their govern- ment nearer the Mediterranean and Asia ilinor. Accordingly, when the Seleucid Empire was founded, Seleucus Nikator (Jos. c. Apion, ii. 4) selected a site 120 stadia from the sea (Strabo, xvi.), where the Orontes, now El-'Asi, and the great roads from the Euphrates and Coele-Syria break the long Syrian range and…
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Antioch
(from Antiochus)- IN Syria. The capital of the Greek kings of Syria, and afterwards the residence of the Roman governors of the province which bore the same name. Situation .—This metropolis was situated where the chain of Lebanon, running northward, and the chain of Taurus, running eastward. are brought to an abrupt meeting. Here the Orontes breaks through the mountains; and Antioch was placed at a bend of the river, 16 1/2 miles from the Mediterranean, partly on an island, partly on the levee which forms the left bank, and partly on the steep and craggy ascent of Mount Silpius, which, rose abruptly on the south. It is about 300 miles north of Jerusalem. In the immediate neighborhood was Daphne the celebrated sanctuary of Apollo 2 Macc. 4:33; whence the city was sometimes called Antioch by Daphne, to distinguish it from other cities of the same name. Destruction .—The city was founded in the year 300 B.C., by Seleucus Nicator. It grew under the successive Seleucid kings till it became a city of great extent and of remarkable beauty. One feature, which seems to have been characterist…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia