Difference between revisions of "Antioch"

<p> '''An'tioch.''' ''(From Antiochus)'' </p> <p> 1. 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. </p> <p> '''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. </p> <p> It is about 300 miles north of Jerusalem. In the immediate neighborhood was Daphne, the celebrated sanctuary of Apollo &nbsp;2 [[Maccabees]] 4:33; whence the city was sometimes called ''Antioch By Daphne'' , to distinguish it from other cities of the same name. </p> <p> '''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 characteristic of the great Syrian cities, a vast street with colonnades, intersecting the whole from end to end, was added by Antiochus Epiphanes. </p> <p> By Pompey, it was made a free city, and such it continued till the time of Antoninus Pius. The early emperors raised there some large and important structures, such as aqueducts, amphitheatres and baths. (Antioch, in Paul's time, was the third city of the Roman empire, and contained over 200,000 inhabitants. Now it is a small, mean place of about 6000. - Editor). </p> <p> '''Bible History.''' No city, after Jerusalem, is so intimately connected with the history of the apostolic church. Jews were settled there from the first in large numbers, were governed by their own ethnarch, and allowed to have the same political privileges with the Greeks. </p> <p> The chief interest of Antioch, however, is connected with the progress of Christianity among the heathen, Here the first Gentile church was founded, &nbsp;Acts 11:20-21, here the disciples of '''Jesus Christ''' were first called Christians. &nbsp;Acts 11:26. It was from Antioch that St. Paul started on his three missionary journeys. </p> <p> 2. In '''Pisidia''' , &nbsp;Acts 13:14; &nbsp;Acts 14:19; &nbsp;Acts 14:21; &nbsp;2 Timothy 3:11, on the borders of Phrygia, corresponds to ''Yalobatch'' , which is distant from ''Aksher'' six hours over the mountains. This city, like the Syrian Antioch, was founded by Seleucus Nicator. Under the Romans, it became a ''Colonia'' , and was also called Caesarea. </p>

<p> '''Antioch''' (''Ăn'Ti-'' ''Ŏk'' ), ''Place That Withstands'' (from ''Antiochus'' ). The name of two cities in New Testament times. 1. Antioch in Syria, &nbsp;Acts 11:19; &nbsp;Acts 11:22, founded by Seleucus Nicator, about 300 b.c., and enlarged by Antiochus Epiphanes. This city was about 300 miles north of Jerusalem, on the left bank of the river Orontes, 16½ miles from the Mediterranean, in a deep pass between the Lebanon and the Taurus ranges of mountains. At Antioch the disciples were first called Christians, &nbsp;Acts 11:26; it was an important centre for the spread of the gospel, &nbsp;Acts 13:1-52; from it Paul started on his missionary journeys, &nbsp;Acts 15:35-36; &nbsp;Acts 18:22-23; important principles of Christian faith and practice were raised and settled through the church at Antioch. &nbsp;Acts 14:26-27; &nbsp;Acts 15:2-30; &nbsp;Galatians 2:11-14. It was made a "free" city by Pompey, was beautified by the emperors with aqueducts, baths, and public buildings; and in Paul's time it ranked third in population, wealth and commercial activity among the cities of the Roman empire. Christianity gained such strength there, that in the time of Chrysostom, who was born at Antioch, one-half of the 200,000 inhabitants of the city were Christians. The old town, which was five miles long, is now represented by a mean, shrunken-looking place of about 6000 population, called ''Antakieh.'' 2. Antioch in or near Pisidia was also founded or rebuilt by Seleucus Nicator. It was situated on a ridge—Strabo calls it a "height"—near the foot of the mountain-range, and by the northern shore of Lake ''Eyerdir.'' Paul preached there, &nbsp;Acts 13:14; &nbsp;Acts 14:21, and was persecuted by the people. &nbsp;2 Timothy 3:11. There were at least sixteen cities of the name of Antioch in Syria and Asia Minor. </p>