Event New Testament
The church at Antioch
Also known as Believers first called Christians
Believers scattered by the persecution after Stephen preached to Greeks in Antioch and many turned to the Lord. Jerusalem sent Barnabas, who brought Saul from Tarsus, and the two taught there for a year. In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians, and from Antioch the church later set apart Barnabas and Saul for their mission.
Why it matters. Antioch is where the Gospel becomes a movement among the nations and where the sending of missionaries begins.
- Primary passages
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: high
Acts records the founding of the church, Barnabas's mission from Jerusalem, his year of teaching there with Saul, and the later sending of the two.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
Cornelius and the first Gentile believers precedes The church at Antioch
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceActs narrates these events in this order.
Evidence:Follow Cornelius and the first Gentile believers in the graph
The church at Antioch precedes The council at Jerusalem
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceActs narrates these events in this order.
Evidence:Barnabas participates in The church at Antioch
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe text names Barnabas in this event at the cited verses.
Evidence:Paul participates in The church at Antioch
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe text names Paul in this event at the cited verses.
Evidence:The church at Antioch occurs at Antioch
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe church is founded and named in Antioch.
Evidence:The church at Antioch develops the theme The Holy Spirit
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Saul and sends them out.
Evidence: