“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” — Acts 11:26 (KJV)
The Birth of a Great City
Antioch, once known as Antioch on the Orontes, was one of the most influential cities of the ancient world. Founded around 300 B.C. by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, Antioch became the capital of the Seleucid Empire and later an important center under Roman rule. Situated near the Orontes River in what is today southern Turkey, it was strategically located between the Mediterranean Sea and the trade routes leading into Mesopotamia and Persia.
This prime position made Antioch a melting pot of cultures—Greek, Roman, Syrian, Jewish, and later, Christian. Its streets echoed with the voices of merchants, philosophers, and travelers from every corner of the known world. The city’s architecture, markets, and theaters reflected the sophistication of the Greco-Roman world while its diverse population brought together East and West in a way no other city did.
A Center of Early Christianity
Antioch holds a profound place in the history of the Church. After the persecution that followed Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 11:19), many believers fled Jerusalem and carried the Gospel northward. Some came to Antioch and began preaching not only to Jews but also to Gentiles—a bold and pivotal moment in the expansion of Christianity.
It was here that Barnabas and Saul (Paul) taught for a year, strengthening the young believers and establishing a thriving church. It was also in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians.” This marked a defining moment—the emergence of a distinct identity for the believers, no longer seen merely as a sect of Judaism, but as a people set apart by their faith in Christ.
Antioch became the launching point for Paul’s missionary journeys, sending the Gospel across Asia Minor and into Europe. The city’s church was known for its spiritual vitality, generosity, and missionary zeal—an example of how the Gospel can transform a cosmopolitan center into a hub of divine purpose.
Cultural and Religious Diversity
Antioch’s population was estimated to be over half a million people during its peak. Greeks, Romans, Syrians, and Jews lived side by side, creating a vibrant but often tension-filled society. The city boasted magnificent temples to Zeus, Apollo, and Artemis, alongside synagogues and, later, Christian assemblies.
The city’s great boulevard, lined with marble colonnades and illuminated by street lamps, was famed throughout the empire. Its amphitheaters hosted performances and debates; its baths and gardens were renowned for their beauty. Yet amid the grandeur, Antioch was also a place of moral challenges. Pagan worship, idolatry, and pleasure-seeking flourished alongside the growing Christian community, making it a testing ground for early believers learning to walk in holiness within a worldly city.
Decline and Legacy
In the centuries that followed, Antioch faced numerous challenges—earthquakes, invasions, and internal decline. It fell to Persian, Byzantine, and later Islamic forces. By the Middle Ages, its glory had faded, yet its spiritual legacy endured.
The name of Antioch remains forever tied to the birth of Christian identity and missionary outreach. It was a city where cultures collided but where the Gospel united hearts beyond boundaries of race, language, and tradition. In many ways, Antioch represents the Church’s eternal mission: to shine as a light in a world of diversity and darkness.
Conclusion
Antioch stands as a testimony to the power of the Gospel to flourish in the heart of human civilization. It was from this crossroads of trade, philosophy, and religion that the message of Christ spread to the nations.
In every age, the Church faces its own “Antioch moments”—times when believers must carry the Gospel into the centers of culture, commerce, and influence. Just as in the first century, the call remains the same: to live so faithfully to Christ that the world around us might say once again, “These are Christians.”