Antioch of Pisidia

Illustration of Antioch of Pisidia

Antioch of Pisidia - distinct from the great Syrian Antioch that sent Paul out - was a Roman colony in the highlands of Asia Minor where Paul delivered his first fully recorded sermon. Invited to speak in the synagogue, he traced Israel's story from the Exodus to David to Jesus, declared the resurrection, and pressed the point home: 'through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.' Nearly the whole city gathered the next sabbath, and when jealous opposition arose, Paul and Barnabas made the pivot that shaped the rest of the New Testament: 'lo, we turn to the Gentiles.' The Gentiles rejoiced, the word spread through the whole region, and the missionaries were expelled - shaking the dust off their feet and leaving behind disciples 'filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.'

0:00

Details

Region
Asia Minor
Modern Location
Yalvaรง, Turkey
Strongest connections in Scripture
Acts 13 2ร—

Key Passages

Paul's Sermon in the Synagogue

Acts 13:14-16

Paul's first recorded sermon begins here - the template of his synagogue preaching: Israel's story, fulfilled in Jesus, offering a justification the law could never give.

B14ut when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

"Lo, We Turn to the Gentiles"

Acts 13:44-48

Rejection in the synagogue becomes commission to the nations - the strategic turning point of Paul's entire ministry, announced in a Pisidian street.

A44nd the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Explore Related

Characters

Paul Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was a zealous Pharisee who actively persecuted early Christiansโ€ฆ Barnabas Barnabas, originally named Joseph, was a Levite from Cyprus who earned the nickname Son of Encouragementโ€ฆ

Timeline Events

Paul's Missionary Journeys Paul and Barnabas set out to do something no one had attempted: take the gospel to the Gentile world.

Did You Know?

1

Sixteen cities in the ancient world were named Antioch, all honoring the same Seleucid dynasty - the New Testament features two of them.

2

Paul's sermon here is his longest recorded synagogue address - the template scholars use to reconstruct how he preached to Jewish audiences everywhere.

3

The Roman emperor Augustus made Pisidian Antioch a colony for army veterans - Paul's 'we turn to the Gentiles' was announced in one of Rome's most Roman towns.

Key Chapters

Acts 13 Paul's First Missionary Journey 8 min read