Seleucia

Seleucia was the port city from which Paul and Barnabas sailed to Cyprus on their first missionary journey (Act 13:4).

Seleucia, also known as Seleucia Pieria, was a port city located near the mouth of the Orontes River on the Mediterranean coast of Syria. It served as the seaport for the city of Antioch, which was located about 16 miles inland. Seleucia was founded by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, around 300 BC and became an important center of trade and commerce in the Seleucid Empire. In the New Testament, Seleucia is mentioned in Act.13.4 as the place from which Paul and Barnabas set sail for Cyprus on their first missionary journey after being sent out by the church in Antioch. The city's strategic location made it an ideal starting point for sea travel to the Mediterranean islands and beyond. Today, the ruins of ancient Seleucia can be found near the modern Turkish city of Samandağ.

The sea-port of Antioch, near the mouth of the Orontes. Paul and his companions sailed from this port on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:4). This city was built by Seleucus Nicator, the “king of Syria.” It is said of him that “few princes have ever lived with so great a passion for the building of cities. He is reputed to have built in all nine Seleucias, sixteen Antiochs, and six Laodiceas.” Seleucia became a city of great importance, and was made a “free city” by Pompey. It is now a small village, called el-Kalusi.