One of the most noted cities in the New Testament is the city of Antioch. There were actually two cities named Antioch that are mentioned in scripture, Antioch of Syria and Antioch of Pisidia. This paper deals with Antioch of Syria and will look at the history of the city as well as its significance in the New Testament. The city was founded on the Orontes River about 20 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and is located about 300 miles north of Jerusalem. Antioch was originally founded in 301 B.C. by Seleucus I Nicator and was named after his father Antiochus. Seleucus lived from 358 B.C to 280 B.C. and had served under Alexander the Great. Following the death of Alexander in 323 B.C. there began a series of wars between Alexanders generals …show more content…
It became the third city of the Roman Empire below Rome and
Alexandria , reaching an estimated population of 500,000 inhabitants. Under Roman rule, Antioch was made the capital of the Roman province of Syria. The city had magnificent temples, impressive theaters, a very sophisticated aqueduct system, and elegant baths. One of the most famous, as well as impressive, additions to Antioch during Roman rule was the construction of the Circus of Antioch. This was a Roman hippodrome that was used for chariot racing. It measured more than 490 meters in length and 30 meters in width and would hold more than 80,000 spectators. In the first century, Antioch was a flourishing free city of Rome with inhabitants from many different areas. One of the groups that thrived was the Diaspora Jewish community. For this reason, as well as the city being on a major trade route, it became one of the main seats of
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It begins by telling us that the believers who fled Jerusalem because of the persecution of the church after the stoning of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. The Christians from jerusalem only shared the gospel with the Jews but some others shared it with the gentiles. Once the church in Jerusalem heard that the Gentiles were believing, they sent Barnabas to check on it. Once he found that it was true, he went to Tarsus to find Paul and brought him to Antioch where they discipled many of the believers for a year. Verse 25 points out that it was in Antioch the the disciples were first called Christians. Acts 13:1-3 the church at Antioch, at the command of the Holy Spirit, sent Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary Journey. This is the first occurrence of a church sending out missionaries to foreign fields. Acts 14:26 concludes the first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas returning to Antioch where they gather the church together and share with them all that God had done through them. Acts 15 details the Jerusalem council and the role Antioch played in its decision. It was after some men from Jerusalem came to Antioch teaching the brothers that they had to be circumcised in order to be saved that Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go the Jerusalem to see what the apostles had to say on the matter. It was with great joy that the
Maxwell, . "The Jewish Diaspora in the Hellenistic Period." A Jewish Synagogue. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Mar 2011. .
The history of Caesarea Maritima is extensive as the city has been taken and occupied by many different people. Before Caesarea Maritima was founded, this location by the Mediterranean Sea was known as Strato’s Tower. The Phoenicians settled the area in the third century B.C., and named the anchorage in honor of one of the kings of Sidon. The port was captured by Alexander Janneus, and later seized by Pompey (Ward 305). Herod the Great built Caesarea Maritima on top of Strato’s Tower around 20 B.C., and named the city in honor of Augustus Caesar. Caesarea became the capital of the Roman province of Judea in 6 A.D. after the Romans assumed direct control of Palestine (O’Conner 213). For the next 600 years, Caesarea was one of the most important cities in Palestine (The Ho...
There is a lot that has been said about the missionary trips of this distinguished servant of Christ which started about fourteen years after his transformation. His travels have left many Bible scholars confused about his powerful impact and how he founded of the Western Christian Church.
In David deSilva book, Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture deSilva states that context is extremely important as well as understanding the culture, without these elements one cannot properly understand the interpretation of Scripture. David deSilva gives an enlightening contextual study of first century Mediterranean culture. deSilva believes that all culture delivers the framework for all communication, and the New Testament writings is no different in how the culture provides the framework for communication.
Main Events in the history of Jerusalem. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2011, from Century One Educational Bookstore: http://www.centuryone.com/hstjrslm.html
The city Ephesus was founded in about 1044 B.C. It was considered to be a wealthy city due to the fact that it was a commercial center of trade. Ephesus was the most important city in the Roman province of Asia. It was a center of great commercial life and a crossroads of the empire. "The city was known throughout the Roman world as the center for the worship of the goddess Artemis, and the great temple of Artemis was located there. This great temple was larger than two football fields in length, and was one of the seven wonders of the world. (1)" Due to this, the city had a powerful influence in the Roman community. The church was began by Paul (Acts 19). Paul preached Jesus to some disciples who had been led to some knowledge of truth by Apollos, they believed and were baptized by the Spirit and so the church in Ephesus came into existence.
The progression of the letter starts with an introduction by Paul where he greets and bless his audience, the church of Ephesus, and introduces himself. It follows on explaining that they have been predestined in God's plan for His glory. It continues by stating that we have dead because of our sins but now we ar...
Title: "Look At Us " Scripture: Acts 3:1-10 This is the first miracle performed by the apostles, in Acts 4, we can see because of this miracle, even though the apostles were persecuted, but they still preached the gospel powerfully. Acts 4:13-14 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
The city of Byzantium was built in the seventh century and was proved to be both beneficial for Romans and Greeks. Emperor Constantine wanted to unite the Roman empire and realized the strategic importance of Byzantium upon reuniting the Empire of Rome because it was placed on the European side of Strait of Bosporus, so in 324 AD, Constantine decided to build his new capital their and named it Constantinople. Constantinople was built in the hope of reuniting the Roman Empire. Before Constantinople, the Empire was divided into two parts; Emperor Diocletian ruled the East and Emperor Constantine ruled the West. Emperor Constantine was ruthless and when an Emperor named Lucinius took complete power of the East in 313 A.D, Constantine challenged and defeated Lucinius at the Battle of Chrysopolis and became the Emperor of the whole Roman Empire. Now that Constantine was the Emperor of the whole, reunited Empire, he needed to relocate Rome’s capitol somewhere besides old Rome because the infrastructure was of the city was weak, the eco...
In the time of Paul missionary in Ephesus every people beside this city also pass by because it is the main trade place for business man and for any other business thing. While Paul trave...
Jerusalem became the capital of King David’s empire, and for a period of time, under his son’s rule, it was a major trade city and was very significant among the surrounding peoples. After King David died in 970 BC, his son, Solomon, took over and fabricated the first Temple in this holy city run by the Jewish people and functioning upon their beliefs. This temple became known as the great temple as it was added upon over multiple years by varying skilled architects. Solomon’s rule brought the city success, but after his death Davidic ruler...
g. The leading position was seemingly held by James, the brother of our Lord, in the early years of the Church. Consider the Council at Jerusalem which is recorded in the fifteenth chapter of Acts, especially verses 13 to 29. h. Regardless of who was the leader, the Council’s decision was not one leader’s authoritative action. The decision and its implementation were the Council’s collegial action.
The Book of Acts begins with Jesus Holy Spirit appearing to the chosen apostles over a period of forty days and speaking to them about the kingdom of God. Jesus commanded the apostles not to leave Jerusalem and wait on the gift promised by His father. The gift to the apostles was to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. Jesus then told his apostles you will receive the power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Peter serves as the leader of the apostles. The first thing ordered was to elect Matthias as the twelfth apostle, replacing the traitor Judas.
Paul's first missionary journey was to the island of Cyprus. Salamis was there first destination on the island. During his stay in Salamis Paul and Barnabas preached in the Jewish synagogues, while John also ministered with them. The next stop Paul and Barnabas made was Paphos at the almost opposite end of Cyprus. While in Paphos they found a Governor called Sergius Paulus who wanted to hear their teachings. However, the Governor had sorcerer, Elymas, in his company, who did not want him to hear the word of God. Paul being filled with the Holy Ghost admonished Elymas and said, "O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season" (Acts 13:10-11). Elymas being struck blind astonished the Governor and he believed the word of the Lord that apostles had spoken to him. After leaving Paphos John returned to Jerusalem.
The biblical book of Acts is an interpretation of the early discoursing regarding Jesus Christ, the development of the ancient Christian people, and sharing the good news of the Christian message. When Jesus was raise from the dead he went to see his disciples to my understanding, respiring on the disciples and stating, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22, NKJV). On the contrary even though the disciples had obtained the Holy Ghost after Jesus respired on them, my studies revealed that Jesus expressed to the disciples to pause for the satisfying or fulfillment of the Holy Ghost that was in Jerusalem.