← Previous: MJ-001 Antioch Interactive Journey Map Next: MJ-003 Salamis →
Missionary Journeys Collection Exhibit 2 of 10

Missionary Journeys Collection

MJ-002

Seleucia Pieria

The Harbor Where the Mission to the Nations Began

“So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.” — Acts 13:4, NKJV

Explore This Stop View Featured Artwork

Welcome to the Exhibit

From Antioch to the Mediterranean

After the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul to the work prepared for them, the church at Antioch fasted, prayed, laid hands on them, and sent them out.

Their first recorded destination was Seleucia Pieria, the great Mediterranean port that served Antioch of Syria. From this harbor Paul and Barnabas boarded a ship and sailed toward the island of Cyprus.

Journey Orientation

Where Are We in Paul’s Journey?

Current Stop: Seleucia Pieria

The Praise Aflame™ Biblical Museum & Resource Centre

Missionary Journeys Permanent Collection

Seleucia Pieria

Acts 13:4

Exhibit MJ-002
Approximate Date Mid-First Century AD
Ancient Location Seleucia Pieria, Syria
Modern Location Samandağ, Türkiye

Historical Significance: Seleucia Pieria was the principal Mediterranean harbor serving Antioch. From here Paul and Barnabas departed by sea for Cyprus, turning the church’s commissioning into active missionary movement.

The Biblical Record

Acts 13:4

“So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.”

Acts 13:4, NKJV

Historical Background

The Port of Antioch

A Strategic Mediterranean Harbor

Seleucia Pieria stood on the Mediterranean coast northwest of Antioch. It functioned as Antioch’s principal seaport and connected the important Syrian metropolis with maritime routes throughout the eastern Mediterranean.

Travelers and goods moving between Antioch and distant regions could pass through Seleucia before boarding vessels bound for Cyprus, Asia Minor, Greece, and other parts of the Roman world.

The Mission Moves Forward

At Antioch the Holy Spirit spoke and the church commissioned Barnabas and Saul. At Seleucia that calling became movement.

Acts 13 records the transition in only a few words, yet geographically this harbor marks the point where the first missionary journey became an overseas mission.

Archaeologist’s Note

Seleucia Pieria was an important engineered harbor complex of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Archaeological remains preserve evidence of roads, fortifications, harbor works, tombs, and large-scale water-management projects.

  • Ancient harbor installations
  • Rock-cut channels and water-management systems
  • Fortifications and city remains
  • Rock-cut tombs and funerary monuments

One of the region’s most remarkable surviving engineering works is the channel-and-tunnel system traditionally associated with Titus, designed to divert destructive floodwaters away from the harbor area.

Explore Seleucia Pieria Today

The archaeological remains of Seleucia Pieria lie near modern Samandağ in Hatay Province, Türkiye, close to the Mediterranean coast.

Modern Area
Samandağ
Province
Hatay
Country
Türkiye
Journey Role
Departure port for Cyprus
View Seleucia Pieria on Google Maps

Did You Know?

Four Details That Shape the Story

01

Antioch’s Seaport

Seleucia Pieria served as the principal Mediterranean harbor for Antioch, one of the great cities of Roman Syria.

02

Sent by the Holy Spirit

Acts 13:4 emphasizes that Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Holy Spirit, showing that the mission originated with God.

03

Cyprus Was Next

From Seleucia they sailed westward toward Cyprus, Barnabas’s native island and the first overseas region of the journey.

04

An Engineered Harbor

The surviving archaeological landscape includes major ancient engineering works created to protect and support the harbor.

Curator’s Reflection

Obedience Turns Calling Into Movement

At Antioch, God spoke. At Seleucia, Paul and Barnabas moved.

There is often a moment when spiritual calling must become practical obedience. Prayer becomes a road. A commission becomes a departure. Faith requires the first physical step.

Calling becomes mission when obedience begins.

Seleucia reminds us that seemingly ordinary places can become doorways into the larger purposes of God.

— Praise Aflame™ Biblical Museum & Resource Centre

Life Application

What Is Your Seleucia?

There are moments when God’s direction requires more than agreement. It requires movement. Paul and Barnabas show us a simple but powerful response: when the Holy Spirit sent them, they went.

Consider: What first step of obedience may God already be asking you to take?

Explore More

Related Museum Resources

Previous Exhibit

MJ-001 Antioch

Return to the commissioning of Barnabas and Saul by the worshipping church at Antioch.

Interactive Resource

First Missionary Journey Map

Follow the entire route from Antioch through Cyprus and Asia Minor, one stop at a time.

Missionary Journeys

The Journey of Paul

Explore the larger story of Paul’s calling, ministry, travels, churches, opposition, and perseverance.

Continue the Journey

Next Destination: Salamis, Cyprus

Paul and Barnabas now cross the Mediterranean to Cyprus. At Salamis they begin proclaiming the Word of God in the Jewish synagogues, with John Mark assisting them.

← Previous: MJ-001 Antioch Interactive Journey Map Continue to MJ-003 Salamis →