Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen , [ epi Stefanoo ] - not "about Stephen" in the sense of 'concerning' [ peri ], nor about (the time of) Stephen (which would require the genitive), but 'over,' 'after,' or 'resulting from (what happened to) Stephen,'
Travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. Phoenicia was that strip of Mediterranean coast which, commencing a little to the north of Caesarea, stretches northward for upwards of 100 miles, half way to Antioch. Cyprus is that rich and productive island of the Mediterranean lying to the southwest of Seleucia, from whose eastern promontory it may be seen on a clear day. Between Phoenicia and Cyprus an active commercial contact subsisted. That the preaching of these scattered disciples bore fruit in Phenicia, we may safely conclude from the incidental mention of "disciples" at Tyre, at Ptolemais (now Jean d'Acre), and at Sidon-all in Phoenicia-whom Paul visited long after this (Acts 21:3-7; Acts 27:3). Nor is it likely that their labours were fruitless in Cyprus, into which the Gospel had penetrated before-for Barnabas was a Cypriot (Acts 4:36), and Mnason (Acts 21:16), and even some of the dispersed themselves (Acts 11:20). As for Antioch-which stands out as prominently in the history of the earliest GENTILE Christianity as Jerusalem of its JEWISH division-some account of it may fitly be given here.
A little to the north of Damascus there rises from the mountain range of Anti-Libanus the ancient river Orontes, which, after flowing due north for more than 200 miles, has its course bent westward by the mountain-chain of Amanus, whence, after a southwesterly course of less than 20 miles, it empties itself into the Mediterranean. At the bend of this noble river, on its left bank, and at the foot of an abrupt hill called Silphius, Seleucus Nicator-one of Alexander's greatest generals and successors, and the founder of the Seleucidae, or Greek kings of Syria-built the city of ANTIOCH in the year 300 BC, as the capital of his Syrian kingdom. Following out the policy of his illustrious master, to Hellenize his Asiatic dominions, he founded Greek colonies in most of his provinces, whose capital cities should become centers of Western civilization; and among these, Antioch-enjoying unequaled advantages, natural and geographical-rose to the rank of Queen of the East.
By its harbour at Seleucia it commanded the Mediterranean trade of the West, while through the open country lying to the east of the Lebanon range the whole East lay open to it. It was the policy. of Seleucus and his successors to encourage the Jews to settle in these Greek cities. With this view, equal rights and privileges with those enjoyed by the Greeks were accorded to them by Seleucus (Josephus, Ant. 12: 3. 1). Attracted by these advantages, and the nearness, amplitude, and beauty of the city, immense numbers of Jews settled there; and though Antiochus Epiphanes oppressed them, his successors hastened to undo his acts, and not only did they celebrate their worship there in peace, and even with some splendour, but large numbers of proselytes from among the Greeks came over to them from time to time (Josephus, Jewish Wars, 7: 3. 3). Under the Romans Antioch was regarded as second only to Rome and Alexandria, while its Christian history has secured for it a veneration second only to Jerusalem itself.
As a Greek colony, the language and literature of Greece predominated, without eclipsing the native Oriental element, while a strong Jewish element also held its ground. With this mixture of nationalities, blending their respective characteristics, it need not surprise us that a metropolis situated geographically as Antioch was, and embracing a population of above half a million of souls, should have become the Rome of the East. The learning of every sort which flourished in it, and the great extent of its population, is attested by Cicero [Locus noblis celebris quondam urbs et copiosa, atque eruditissimis hominibus liberalissimisque studiis affluens.-Prov. Archia, 3]; and for nearly a thousand years it continued to be one of the most populous and wealthy cities of the world. It is now a poor miserable place of eighteen thousand inhabitants, of whom only a small proportion are-what the disciples were first called at Antioch-Christians. Of the first introduction of Christianity into this once celebrated city, and its earliest Christian activities, we are now to hear.