Antioch was the capital of the Roman province of Syria, and here the imperial governor had his residence. Antioch had half a million inhabitants; it was the third city of the empire in size and the first in wickedness and flagrant immorality. [1]
Jesus and his pupil Ganid were for some time at Antioch. [2]
Jesus revisited Antioch for two months, working, observing, studying, visiting, ministering, and all the while learning how man lives, how he thinks, feels, and reacts to the environment of human existence. [3] Jesus visited all parts of Antioch but refused to visit the notorious grove of Daphne. [4]
Paul’s disciples first called Christians at Antioch. [5] Peter also preached there. [6] When the dwindling resources due to the early Christians’ “equal-sharing” ran out over time, believers in Antioch sent funds to Jerusalem. [7] Cedes, a christian believer, made record of Jesus’ life at Antioch. [8] There was very close connection between the culture, commerce, and worship of Jerusalem and Antioch. [9]
Within a short time after the destruction of Jerusalem, Antioch became the headquarters of Pauline Christianity, while Philadelphia remained the center of the Abnerian kingdom of heaven. [10]
See also: UB 130:0.3.