After they returned to Antioch, the holy spirit directed that Paul and Barnabas be set aside for special work, so they were sent on Paul’s first missionary tour, about 47-48 C.E. Before he started on his second missionary tour and while he was in Antioch, the matter of circumcision for Gentiles arose in about 49 C.E., and the decree of the governing body at Jerusalem was delivered by Paul and Barnabas to the congregation at Antioch. (Ac 15:13-35) Paul’s second missionary journey, about 49-52 C.E., likewise began and ended at Antioch, and here also was where Paul corrected Peter’s compromising action of discriminating between Jews and Gentiles.​—Ga 2:11, 12.

Paul twice visited it with Barnabas on his first evangelistic journey about 47-48 C.E. and preached in the synagogue, finding much interest. (Ac 13:14; 14:19-23) However, becoming jealous of the crowds that were attending, certain Jews stirred up some of the leading men and women of the city and threw Paul and Barnabas outside.​—Ac 13:45, 50; 2Ti 3:11.