Antioch as a Church Planting Community: Revisiting Barnabas and Paul's Departure in Acts 13:1–4

Abstract:The church of Antioch is commonly taken as a model of a missional community as it supposedly sent Barnabas and Paul on their church planting endeavour (Acts 13:1–4). A close reading of the relevant texts shows that this may be a misreading of the available data. Barnabas and Paul are sent by the Spirit, not Antioch, and, as is common in Acts and the New Testament, apostleship is by divine calling, not institutional decision-making and strategising. The verb ἀπολύω is never used in "missional" sending contexts. Additionally, Paul never links his apostleship with Antioch. Furthermore, the common reading downplays and veils important theological patterns in Acts.