The great Roman metropolis where, Acts says, the disciples were first called 'Christians,' and the base from which Paul and Barnabas were sent out. It was one of the largest cities of the empire and a cradle of the Gentile church. Excavations have uncovered the Roman city and its famous mosaics; the cave 'Church of St Peter' on its edge is a traditional site.
- Where it is
- Southern Turkey (ancient Syria)
- Scripture
- Acts 11:26 · Acts 13:1-3
What the evidence confirmsAntioch was a major, well-excavated Roman city and a documented cradle of the early Gentile church, attested in Acts and early Christian writers alike.
What it does not proveSpecific spots such as St Peter's grotto are traditional; much of the ancient city lies beneath the modern one, which was badly damaged in the 2023 earthquake.
Sources & further reading