Certainly, Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, which may have been
addressed in part to the Christians of Antioch in Pisidia, notes
that he had been ill the first time he came among them (Galatians
4.13–14; cf. Mitchell 1993: II, 5–6). Even so, there were other
highland towns that Paul might have visited rather than Antioch.
In Mitchell’s view, the key to solving this riddle lies in Paul’s
connection with Sergius Paullus, for his family, the Sergii Paulli,
were among the leading citizens of Antioch in Pisidia. The basis
for Mitchell’s view is a series of inscriptions from the city itself
or its surrounding territories:(1) A Latin inscription giving a dedication ‘To Lucius
Sergius, son of Lucius, Paullus, the younger, a member
of the board of four men for the upkeep of the roads,
military tribune of the sixth legion Ferrata, quaestor’
(Jacquier 1916: 246). This man was clearly of senato-
rial rank, since he was a quaestor. His name was also
identical with that of his father, which is why he is
described as Lucius Sergius Paullus the younger (filius
in Latin).
(2) Another member of the family – probably a daughter
of the elder Lucius Sergius Paullus and hence the sister
of the younger Lucius Sergius Paullus discussed in (1)
above – is known from a Greek inscription that men-
tions a ‘Sergia Paulla, daughter of Lucius’, who was
married to another leading citizen of Antioch in Pisidia,
Gaius Caristanius Fronto. The name of the emperor
Domitian (81–96) has been partially erased from this
inscription, helping us to date Sergia Paulla to the end
of the first century. Further information of her husband
is provided by another inscription from the city. It lists
his distinguished career and confirms the chronology:
he served in various military and administrative posts
under Vespasian (69–79), Titus (79–81), and Domitian
(81–96). In addition, he had been promoted to the senate
(for both inscriptions, see Cheesman 1913: 260–6).CONTEXTS FOR THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY
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