The Syriac Peshitta

For nine days in 1892, the twin sisters of Agnes Smith Lewis and Margaret Dunlop Gibson journeyed by camel through the desert to St. Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai.  Why would these two women in their late 40's undertake such a journey at a time when travel in what was called the Orient was so dangerous?  The answer may help strengthen your belief in the accuracy of the Bible.

JUST before returning to heaven, Jesus commissioned his disciples  to bear witness  about him "in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the most distant part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) This the disciples did with zeal and courage.  Their ministry in Jerusalem, however, soon stirred up strong opposition, resulting in the martyrdom of Stephen.  Many of Jesus' disciples found refuge  in Antioch, Syria, one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire, some  350 miles (550 km) north of Jerusalem.-Acts 11:19.  

In Antioch, the disciples continued to preach "the good news" about Jesus, and many non-Jews  became believers.  (Acts 11:20, 21) Though Greek was the common language within the walls o Antioch, outside its gates and in the province, the language of the people was Syriac. 

Next time: THE GOOD NEWS TRANSLATED INTO SYRIAC

From the Watchtower magazine, 2014