labor among the professors of the Jewish faith, but also to communicate the doctrines of Christ to the Grecians. In this crisis he bethought himself of the wonderful young convert with whom he had become acquainted, under such remarkable circumstances, a few years before, in Jerusalem,—whose daring zeal and masterly learning had been so signally manifested among the Hellenists, with whom he had formerly been associated as an equally active persecutor. Inspired both by considerations of personal regard, and by wise convictions of the peculiar fitness of this zealous disciple for the field now opened in Syria, Barnabas immediately left his apostolic charge at Antioch, and went over to Tarsus, to invite Saul to this great labor. The journey was but a short one, the distance by water being not more than one hundred miles, and by land, around through the "Syrian gates," about one hundred and fifty. He therefore soon arrived at Saul's home, and found him ready and willing to undertake the proposed apostolic duty. They immediately returned together to Antioch, and earnestly devoted themselves to their interesting labors.
"Antioch, the metropolis of Syria, was built, according to some authors, by Antiochus
Epiphanes; others affirm, by Seleucus Nicanor, the first king of Syria after
Alexander the Great, in memory of his father Antiochus, and was the "royal seat
of the kings of Syria." For power and dignity, Strabo, (lib. xvi. p. 517,) says it was
not much inferior to Seleucia, or Alexandria. Josephus, (lib. iii. cap. 3,) says, it was
the third great city of all that belonged to the Roman provinces. It was frequently
called Antiochia Epidaphne, from its neighborhood to Daphne, a village where the
temple of Daphne stood, to distinguish it from other fourteen of the same name mentioned
by Stephanus de Urbibus, and by Eustathius in Dionys. p. 170; or as Appianus
(in Syriacis,) and others, sixteen cities in Syria, and elsewhere, which bore that
name. It was celebrated among the Jews for 'Jus civitatis,' which Seleucus Nicanor
had given them in that city with the Grecians and Macedonians, and which,
says Josephus, they still retain, Antiq. lib. xii. cap. 13; and for the wars of the
Maccabeans with those kings. Among Christians, for being the place where they
first received that name, and where Saul and Barnabas began their apostolic labors
together. In the flourishing times of the Roman empire, it was the ordinary residence
of the prefect or governor of the eastern provinces, and also honored with the residence
of many of the Roman emperors, especially of Verus and Valens, who spent
here the greatest part of their time. It lay on both sides of the river Orontes, about
twelve miles from the Mediterranean sea." (Wells's Geography N. T.—Whitby's
Table.) (J. M. Williams's Notes on Pearson's Annales Paulinae.)
Having arrived at Antioch, Saul gave himself, with Barnabas,
zealously to the work for which he had been summoned, and labored
among the people to good purpose, assembling the church
and imparting to all that would hear, the knowledge of the Christian
doctrine. Under these active exertions the professors of the
faith of Jesus became so numerous and so generally known in
Antioch, that the heathen inhabitants found it convenient to designate
them by a distinct appellation, which they derived from
