徒Acts 13：1-3 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers:  Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

公元46-49年，保罗和巴拿马受圣灵的差派开始了第一次宣教。从叙利亚的安提阿到塞浦路斯，由称呼马可的约翰做伴。他们先到“撒拉米，就在犹太人各会堂里传讲神的道”（徒13:5），然后到了帕弗，在那里经历了以吕马眼瞎，方伯士求保罗央求保罗信主等事情。然后，他们继续前行到别加，称呼马可的约翰在别加离开保罗回到耶路撒冷。在此期间，第一所外邦人的教会在彼西底的安提阿成立。保罗被逐之后到以哥念讲道，在路司得城里治愈瘸腿的人，接着他们到了特庇。最后保罗和巴拿马回到叙利亚的安提阿，在“那里同门徒住了多日”（徒14:28）。

In 46-49 AD, Paul and Banaba were sent by the Holy Spirit to start their first mission. From Antioch in Syria to Cyprus, accompanied by John named Mark. They firstly “arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. ” (Acts 13:5), and then went to Paphos, where they experienced the miracle that made Elyma blind, and the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, begged Paul to help him to believe in the Lord. Then they continued on to Perga, where John, who was called Mark, left Paul in Perga and returned to Jerusalem. During this period, the first Gentile church was established in Antioch in Pisidia. After Paul was expelled, he preached in Iconium and healed the lame in Lystra. Then they went to Derbe. Finally Paul and Banaba returned to Antioch of Syria, and “they stayed there a long time with the disciples.” (Acts 14:28).

安提阿教会是保罗宣教的“实习基地”。她是由一般信徒“随走随传”、主动传福音所建立的教会（徒11:19-21），而不是由宣教士开荒建立的。安提阿教会的成长似乎是教会同工自己“摸着石头过河”而成长起来的，但奇妙的是：一开始，他们就有一个强而有力的事奉团队，其中包括善于激励同工的巴拿巴，以及有教导恩赐的保罗。他们合力打下安提阿教会的深厚属灵根基。

The Antioch Church is the practice base for Paul's missions. She is a church established by ordinary believers who went and preached and take the initiative to spread the gospel (Acts 11:19-21), rather than by missionaries who opened up wasteland. The growth of the Antioch church seems to be the result of the church members themselves who “crossing the river by feeling the stones”, but the amazing thing is that from the beginning, they had a strong ministry team, including Barnabas who was good at motivating the co-workers and Paul who was with the gift of teaching. They worked together to lay the deep spiritual foundation of the Antioch church.

我们归纳安提阿教会的四个特点:其一，信徒有爱心，他们听说耶路撒冷的教会大遭饥荒，就捐钱托保罗和巴拿马送去（徒11:27-30）；其二，教会人材荟萃，有许多先知和教师（徒13:1）；保罗的好同工巴拿巴:四个特点（徒4:36-37），其一是利未人；其二家道丰富；其三非常会鼓励别人；其四心胸非常开阔。其三，这只队伍经常性的一起事奉、禁食。当圣灵说，要差派巴拿马和扫罗出去作工时，他们就顺服，打发他们出去（徒13:1－3）。于是巴拿马和扫罗就出发，开始了第一次宣教之旅。其四，这个教会在社会上有一定的影响力。从教会这个层面说是有美好见证的，他们的生活方式和信仰真实地挂钩。只有当我们内在的生命真实地活出来，我们的信仰也就对周围的人有了影响力！耶稣的门徒被称为“基督徒”是从安提阿教会开始的（徒11:26）。

We summarize four characteristics of the Antioch church: First, the believers are caring. They heard that the church in Jerusalem was suffering from famine, so they donated money to Paul and Barnabas to send it (Acts 11:27-30).

Second, there are many talented people is the church, some of them were prophets and teachers (Acts 13:1). Also, Paul’s good co-worker Barnabas who had four characteristics (Acts 4:36-37), first, he was a Levite; second, he was rich in family; third, he very will encouraged others; fourth, he was very open-minded.

Third, this team regularly serves and fasts together. When the Holy Spirit said to send Barnabas and Saul out to work, they obeyed and set out (Acts 13:1-3). So Banabas and Saul set off and embarked on their first missionary journey.

Fourth, this church has a certain influence in society. From the perspective of the church, there are good testimonies, and their lifestyles are truly linked to their beliefs. Only when our inner spiritual life is truly alive, our faith will have an influence on the people around us! The disciples of Jesus were called Christians from the church in Antioch (Acts 11:26).

总结:安提阿教会的活力在于大家同心合意，巴拿马和保罗个性不同，成长背景不同，但因为有一个共同的目标:就是把安提阿教会牧养好，他们非常同心，其二，这个教会内事奉团队分工明确，互相搭配，引用顾牧的一句话“大家搭台，好戏连台，互相拆台，统统倒台”。其三，这个团队能用好人材。教会需要人材，如何用好各种各样的人材是教会的一大课题，我们在强调纯正信仰的同时，首先是接纳人材，即便这个人有着不堪回首的往事，只要他是愿意追求长进的，团队负责人应该用好人材。

Summary: The vitality of the Antioch church lies in the fact that everyone in the church thrived in the gospel in one accord. Barnabas and Paul have different personalities and different growth backgrounds, but because they have a common goal: to shepherd the Antioch church well, they are very in one mind. Second, the internal ministry team of this church has a clear division of labor and matches each other, quoting a Chinese saying, “Everyone builds a stage in one-minded, a good show on the stage continuously, while mutual competition on the stage, and all people would be ended soon." Third, this team can use good gifts. The church needs talents. How to make good use of all kinds of talents is a major issue for the church. While emphasizing pure faith, we must first accept talents. Even if this person has an unbearable past, as long as he is willing to pursue growth, The team leader should use good talents.