Ministry of Paul, Lesson 4
ANTIOCH OF SYRIA: Launchpad for Three Remarkable Missionary Journeys
1 October 2012
Bob Kaylor, Saving Grace Lutheran Church
All quotations from Holy Bible, New International Version c 1984 or The Holy Bible, English Standard Version c 2001
History of the city: Antioch on the Orontes, also called Syrian Antioch, was founded in 300 B.C. on the eastern side of the Orontes River by Seleucus I Nicator (a former General of Alexander the Great), in the far southeastern corner of Asia Minor. Three hundred miles north of Jerusalem, the Seleucids urged Jews to move to Antioch, their western capital, and granted them full rights as citizens upon doing so. The new city soon became the western terminus of the caravan routes over which goods were brought from Persia and elsewhere in Asia to the Mediterranean. Antioch’s strategic command of north-south and east-west roads across northwestern Syria greatly contributed to its growth and prosperity in Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine times. The suburb of Daphne, five miles to the south, was a favorite pleasure resort and residential area for Antioch’s upper classes; and the seaport Seleucia Pieria, at the mouth of the Orontes River, was the city’s harbor. In 64 B.C. Pompey made the city capital over the Roman province of Syria and for a time the Olympic games were held in Antioch.In 36 B.C. Anthony and Cleopatra were married here. By A.D. 165 it was third largest city of the empire with a population estimated at 500,000, surpassed only by Rome and Alexandria. In the 4th century ad Antioch became the seat of a new Roman office that administered all the provinces on the empire’s eastern flank. Because the church of Antioch had the distinction of having been founded by the Apostles Peter and Paul, it became influential in theology and ecclesiastic politics. Antioch prospered in the 4th and 5th centuries from nearby olive plantations, but the 6th century brought a series of disasters from which the city never fully recovered. A fire in 525 was followed by earthquakes in 526 and 528, and the city was captured temporarily by the Persians in 540 and 611. Antioch was absorbed into the Arab caliphate in 637. Under the Arabs, it shrank to the status of a small town. The Byzantines recaptured the city in 969, and it served as a frontier fortification until taken by the Seljuq Turks in 1084. In 1098 it was captured by the Crusaders, who made it the capital of one of their principalities, and in 1268 the city was taken by the Mamlūks, who razed it to the ground. Antioch never recovered from this last disaster, and it had declined to a village of 300 houses when taken by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. It remained part of the Ottoman Empire until the end of World War I, when it was transferred to Syria under French mandate. France allowed the town and surrounding area to rejoin Turkey in 1939.
Biblical connections:There is no direct Old Testament reference to Antioch, but tradition says that the most famous vomiting of all time occurred on the beach at Antioch’s Mediterranean seaport. (Jonah 2:10) There are two cities named “Antioch” in our New Testament. (it was a popular city name, and secular documents show as many as 16 Antiochs.) We are speaking of Syrian Antioch and it is mentioned 15 times, once in Galatians, once in 2 timothy, and all the rest in Acts. It is first mentioned in Acts 6:5 as the home of Nicolaus, one of the deacons chosen at the same time as Stephenwho would soon be martyred.
We catch up with Saul/Paul today in about A.D. 46. Up to this point, much of Paul's life might be consideredpreparatory in nature:
a. Before his conversion…his heritage, education, and progressin the Jewish faith
b. After his conversion…his relative obscurity and work in Damascus, Arabia, and Tarsus
-- All of which would serve useful in the tasks the Lord had in mind for him
At this point in his life, Paul begins a series of missionaryjourneys that took the gospel to regions where it had not been heard,and would leave his mark on many regions in the Mediterraneanworld. Though we may not talk much about Antioch, it holds an important place in Christian history. If you consider Jerusalem to be the headquarters of the early church, then Antioch was a forward operating base. It was where missionary teams were launched and retrieved, and where epistles were distributed to outlying churches. The congregation in Antioch was already established before Paul’s arrival and appears to have been benevolent and blessed with a number of evangelists.
Ac 11:19Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.21And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.22The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.23When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,24for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.25So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.27Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.28And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).29So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothersliving in Judea.30And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Ac 13:1Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While ministering before the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit led the prophets and teachers to consecrate or set aside Barnabas and Saul for a special mission. Thus sent by God, they departed on what we often refer to as Paul’s first missionary journey. It’s about A.D. 47.
Ac 13:2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
They spent about two years traveling through Seleucia, Cyprus, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Psidian Antioch (the other Antioch), Pamphylia, Perga and Attaliaplanting churches and installing congregation leaders. They then returned to their starting point of Syrian Antioch and worked there for about another two years. It’s about here that our missionary stops using his Hebrew name and starts using his Roman name. (Note the names highlighted in this next section.)
Ac 13:7bThe proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.13FromPaphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
Ac 14:25b …they went down to Attalia,26and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.27And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.28And they remained no little time with the disciples.
During this stay in Antioch, between what we refer to as Paul’s first and second missionary journeys, appears to have been when what people call “the Antioch Incident” occurred.
Gal 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?15 “We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.17 “If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
Some make it sound as though Paul was quite brusque with Peter. We don’t know that. These words could’ve been said softly as a gentle plea. It’s also interesting to note that some scholars speculate that the dispute was not between Paul and Peter, but that Peter was acting as an envoy of James back in Jerusalem.
Saul enjoyed his work in Antioch but he was concerned about churches planted on his first journey and had a goal of preaching the gospel in places where that hadn’t yet been done. Saul and Barnabas disagreed on who should accompany them so they separated and both left Antioch on separate mission efforts. Thus begins what we often refer to as Paul’s second missionary journey. During his first missionary journey Saul appears to have been subordinate to Barnabas, but on this second journey it became clear that he was a leader.
Ac 15;36And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
Ro 15:20…and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation,21but as it is written,)“Those who have never been told of him will see,and those who have never heard will understand.”
Ac 15:39And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,40but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
While the separation of Paul and Barnabas over Markwas unpleasant, it did notkeep either from their service to God. Paul eventually wasreconciled with both men (cf. 1Co 9:6; Col 4:10; 2Ti 4:11; Phm 24),and this temporary separation provided the opportunity for others tobecome involved in the work of spreading the gospel. Speaking of others, it’s about here that Luke the physician joins the team. It’s about A.D. 49 and it’s also about the time Paul writes to the Galatians. .
Ac 16:7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Note that Luke, whose Volume 1 is the Gospel that bears his name and whose Volume 2 is the book of Acts, shifts his description of the team from “them” and “they” to “we” and “us” when he picks up his luggage and joins the travelers. Something else is happening at the same time. Paul and others have done mission work throughout Asia Minor before (churches were already established in Cilicia, Derbe, Lystra,Iconium and Pisidian Antioch), but the call to Macedonia takes them into Europe for the first time. As they return to Antioch via Jerusalem in about A.D. 51, Paul writes his two epistles to the Thessalonians.
Ac 18:21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
After establishing churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth,Paul and his companions visited Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost, but apparently didn’t spend much time there before returning to Antioch. (Remember that “up” and “down” are used here in regards to elevation rather than direction.)
Ac 18:23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Paul’s stay in Antioch is apparently short, and then he’s off on what we usually refer to as his third missionary journey. When he leaves Antioch this time, he will not return. His arrest will occur in about A.D. 57 near the end of his planned trip, and he’ll eventually end up in Rome for the rest of his life and ministry. During this journey he’ll write both of his epistles to the Corinthians and his epistle to the Romans. Even though Paul’s third journey doesn’t end on a happy note, it was a tremendous success in terms of churches strengthened, doctrines written, and Christians (Jewish and Gentile) bonded together in mutual support.
Religious roots of the city: The city had a myriad of different pagan traditions from it’s very beginning and up until the Muslims arrived on the scene. The settlement of Meroe pre-dated Antioch. A shrine of Anat, called by the Greeks the "PersianArtemis," was located here. Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great is said to have camped on the site of Antioch, and dedicated an altar to Zeus Bottiaeus, it lay in the northwest quadrant of the future city. Seleucus founded Antioch on a site chosen through ritual means. An eagle, the bird of Zeus, had been given a piece of sacrificial meat and the city was founded on the site to which the eagle carried the offering. If that isn’t pagan enough, a virgin was sacrificed on the site. The subsequent success of the city convinced the founders and the future leaders that her death had been exactly the right choice and she became legendary as the Fortune of Antioch…almost god-like. A paradise among the suburbs was called Daphne, believed to be where a lustful Apollo pursued the nymph Daphne, who was turned into a laurel tree to escape him, her wreathed leaves later crowning victors. It was a park of woods and waters, in the midst of which rose a great temple to the Pythian Apollo, also founded by Seleucus I and enriched with a cult-statue of the god, as Musagetes. A companion sanctuary of Hecate was constructed underground by Diocletian. A great temple to Jupiter Capitolinusrose on Silpius, probably at the insistence of Octavian, whose cause the city had espoused. When the Jewish Temple was destroyed in A.D. 70, Emperor Titus had the Cherubim from there installed over Antioch’s city gates. Antioch was a chief center of early Christianity. The city had a large population of Jewish origin in a quarter called the Kerateion, and so attracted the earliest missionaries. Evangelized, among others, by Peter himself, according to the tradition upon which the Antiochene patriarchate still rests its claim for primacy,and certainly laterby Barnabas and Paul during Paul's first missionary journey.