Data Loading...
Tarsus & Antioch Flipbook PDF
• Persecution scattered the believers into Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and the gospel went with them. Most spoke onl
99 Views
14 Downloads
FLIP PDF 1.16MB
Tarsus & Antioch
The Gates & The Road
• Land route between Asia Minor and Mesopotamia & Egypt • Controlled by the Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman Empires
The River and The Plain
• Because the source of the river is not far off, and its course flows through a deep ravine before it falls into the city, the current is both cold and fast, and soothes the swollen nerves of men and livestock in its current. –Strabo Geography 14.5.12 • After bathing in the cold waters Alexander the Great became ill and nearly died. • Fertile plain grows both crops and live stock
Romans come to Cilicia
• The pirates first grew strong in Cilicia, and were elusive. But then, when the Romans were engaged in civil war, they grew bold and began to attack not just ships at sea, but islands and cities along the coast as well. More hateful than the fear they inspired was their extravagance -- with gilded masts and purple sails and silver-plated oars. They were a disgrace to Roman supremacy -- with drunken revels on every shore. –Plutarch Pompey 24 • Pompey destroys the pirate fleet of 1200 ships and makes annexes Cilician and make Tarsus the capitol of the province in 67 BCE
Marc Antony in Tarsus • In 44 BCE Julius Caesar is assassinated • Antony & Octavian defeat and kill the assassins and divide the empire in 42 BCE • Antony takes the eastern part of the empire and garrisons his troops in Tarsus • He declares Tarsus a free city making its citizens Roman citizens
Antony & Cleopatra • In 41 BCE Antony summons Cleopatra to Tarsus • They marry and have three children: twins Alexander & Cleopatra Selene conceived in Tarsus and a second son Ptolemy • Their marriage and the fact that Antony ceded large parts of Roman territory to Egypt was to be his downfall.
Paul & Cleopatra • Antonius Felix was procurator of Judea when Paul was arrested in Jerusalem • “Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. 25And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.’ 26At the same time he hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.” Acts 24 • All of Cleopatra’s sons were murdered by the Romans, but her daughter Cleopatra Selene and had two children Ptolemy (murdered by Caligula) and Drusilla who married Felix
Tarsus: An Intellectual Center • “Among the men of Tarsus the zeal for philosophy and other kinds of education surpasses that in Athens and Alexandria and any other place renowned for schools and occupation in philosophy.” –Strabo Geography 14.5.13 • Augustus Caesar exempted the city from imperial taxation because Athenodorus, his teacher and friend, was a Tarsian
Paul: A Citizen of Tarsus • ‘I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city.” Acts 21 • The tribune came and asked Paul, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ The tribune answered, ‘It cost me a large sum of money to get my citizenship.’ Paul said, ‘But I was born a citizen.
Paul: Tentmaker • & Scholar
“Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers.” • Paul’s trade, tentmaking, fits well with Tarsus, a city well-known for making a certain type of felt cloth from the wool of shaggy black goats • Student: I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors
Sites in Tarsus
Paul in Antioch
• Persecution scattered the believers into Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and the gospel went with them. Most spoke only to Jews, but in Antioch, some Gentiles were converted. The church sent Barnabas to investigate, and he was pleased with what he found. Acts 11 • Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’. Acts 11
Paul’s First Journey
• Now in the church at Antioch. . While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off • When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. And they stayed there with the disciples for some time.
Antioch on the Orontes
• Antioch was founded by a Hellenistic king in 300 BCE, • The city was thrust into prominence by Augustus when it was made the capitol of the Imperial Province of Syria • With easy access to the Mediterranean by way of the Orantes River, Antioch was also on the crossroads of major trade routes into India and Egypt. • Roman legions were stationed here, and their commander was second in power only to the Emperor himself • The city soon had ethnic enclaves not only for Greeks, Syrians, and Jews, but also for Romans, Germans, Gauls and others. The population of a city like Antioch was in constant flux
St. Peter’s Grotto • This cave is widely believed to have been dug by the Apostle Peter himself as a place for the early Christian community of Antioch to meet, and thus to be the very first Christian church. • Whether or not this is so, St. Peter (and St. Paul) did preach in Antioch around 50 AD and a church had been established in Antioch by as early as 40 AD.
Mosaics Museum • This gallery contains mosaics found in ancient Antioch (modern Antakya, Turkey) and the nearby villages of Daphne and Seleucia Pieria. The Antioch mosaics are among the finest collections of Roman mosaics that have been discovered anywhere. Most were unearthed during excavations in 1930