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Antioch
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Church of Saint Peter

Antioch

Where they were first called Christians · Antakya, Turkey

When persecution broke out in Jerusalem, believers fled to Antioch, then one of the largest cities of the Roman Empire, and began telling Greeks about Jesus as well. Here the disciples were first called 'Christians'. The church in Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas out on the first missionary journeys. Today you can visit the cave church of St Peter in the hillside above Antakya, a city badly hit by the earthquake of 2023.

Did you know?

A cave church in the hillside is said to be one of the oldest places of Christian worship in the world.

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An inspiring story

The son of encouragement

Who believed in you when nobody else did?

When Saul, the former persecutor, came to Jerusalem, the believers were afraid of him and kept their distance. One man took him by the hand: Barnabas, whose name means 'son of encouragement'. Years later Barnabas was sent to Antioch, saw a new church growing and was overjoyed. Then he travelled to Tarsus to look for Saul and brought him along. Why go and fetch someone others had forgotten? Because Barnabas saw what Saul could become. For a whole year they taught together, and here the disciples were first called Christians.

Without Barnabas there might never have been a Paul. Be someone's Barnabas.

He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.Acts 11:24

Sources

Journeys through this place

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