Antioch . . . in Pisidia

When you go to Acts 13:14, you have an odd turn of events. Paul and Barnabas have set out on a missionary trip from Antioch in Syria and they're on the southern coast of Turkey: all of a sudden they bail off to the north and end up where we were today, Antioch of Pisidia, near present Yalvaç.

There are quite a few other places they could have gone, larger and closer, but Paul may have had a letter of recommendation to some of the leaders of the community. Our professor pointed out that this affirms the historicity of the text, since Pisidia is an unlikely destination for the missionaries.


















Only ruins remain today.








In the remarkably homily retained in Acts 13, Paul speaks in the synagogue, and the following Sabbath, addresses the whole town.









On the site of the synagogue, we reread the passage.





The city had been pretty significant in Pisidia.










Main Street.





The Temple of Dionysius was later remade into a church, but the site of the large Temple of Apollo was left in ruins.







Built into the hill at the highest point of town.




Archeological digs have uncovered mosaics and some detailed carvings.








Bull.





Also impressive about the hilltop town is the ambitious aqueduct system bringing water into the city.





















Arches of the aqueduct seen from inside the baths.





All in all, a berry remarkable visit: