Pisidian Antioch

Biblical Text

Paul and Barnabas went up from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:13–14). John, called Mark, parted from the group at Perga and returned to Jerusalem. On the Sabbath the two men entered the synagogue. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue invited them to speak if they had any word of exhortation (13:15). The sermon Paul delivered on this occasion is recorded in Acts 13:16–41. It traces the history of Israel from the Exodus to David and then proclaims the resurrection of Jesus, the descendant of David, and the forgiveness of sins through him. It is the first of Paul's sermons recorded at length in Acts.

On the following Sabbath almost the whole city gathered. When some of the Jews, filled with envy, contradicted them, Paul and Barnabas declared, "Lo, we turn to the Gentiles" (13:46). They cited Isaiah 49:6 as the basis for this declaration. The Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city and had the two expelled from the region. Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust of their feet against them and went to Iconium (13:50–51). Later, Jews who had come from Antioch stoned Paul at Lystra (14:19). On their return journey Paul and Barnabas visited the city again, strengthening the disciples and ordaining elders in every church (14:21–23). The persecutions at "Antioch" that Paul recalls in 2 Timothy 3:11 are generally understood to refer to events in this city.

Background

The city was founded by the Seleucid dynasty and was named after Antiochus, a renowned king of that dynasty. It was called "Antioch toward Pisidia" to distinguish it from Antioch in Syria, which bore the same name, although its actual location is said to have been closer to the region of Phrygia. Under Augustus it became a Roman colony (a Roman-style city in which veterans and others were settled), and administratively it belonged to the Roman province of Galatia. The site lies near present-day Yalvaç in Türkiye. Excavations have uncovered a temple of Augustus, an aqueduct, and the remains of later churches, among other structures.

Significance in Scripture as a Whole

In Acts, this city is where a characteristic pattern of Paul's missionary journeys first appears clearly: he preaches first to the Jews in the synagogue and, when rejected, turns to the Gentiles. This pattern recurs throughout Paul's later mission. The exhortation in Acts 14:22, "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God," was also given when Paul and Barnabas revisited this city.

Interpretations and Issues

• Interpretations differ on Acts 13:48, "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." The Calvinist tradition, including Presbyterians, reads this verse as a text demonstrating God's predestination. The Arminian and Wesleyan traditions, including Methodists and Holiness churches, sometimes understand the word translated "ordained" in the sense of "prepared in heart" (see Predestination and Free Will).
• The city also bears on the question of the recipients of Galatians. The "South Galatian hypothesis" holds that the letter was addressed to the churches founded during the first missionary journey, including those in this city, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. The "North Galatian hypothesis" holds that it was addressed to churches in the northern part of Galatia. Scholars remain divided on the question.
• Scripture does not name this city in connection with Paul's second and third journeys; it is only conjectured that it was included in "Phrygia and the region of Galatia" (Acts 16:6) and "the country of Galatia and Phrygia" (Acts 18:23).