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When The Disciples Were First Called Christians
Acts 11:19-26
You would have thought that such horrendous persecution of the new church would
have chilled the effect it was able to have in the first century world.
Beginning at Jerusalem, threats, beatings and arrests had finally given way to
murder as Stephen was stoned to death for his faith in Jesus. It was decided in
high places to stamp out the church then and there, but it was also decided in
the Highest of High Places not to allow that to happen.
Believers, driven from their homes in Jerusalem, were scattered here and there
throughout Palestine. They had lost their homes and property, but not their
faith. They went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. What did they do? They
spoke the word of the Lord, at first only to their own countrymen, the Jews.
Jesus was a Jew, born of the tribe of Judah. All His apostles, the first
converts, as well as the first persecutors were Jews as well. Soon this was to
change as Greeks heard and obeyed the gospel.
The Gospel Comes To Antioch
"So then, those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in
connection with Steven made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch,
speaking the word to no one except Jews alone. But there were some of them, men
of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also,
preaching the Lord Jesus." (Acts 11:19,20).
It was at Antioch that there was a change of course, though careful
consideration shows that such had been the Lord's plan all along. It was at
Antioch that some of the Jewish believers in Christ from Cyprus and Cyrene began
to do something that would effect the whole world. Perhaps these were some of
those who had been visiting at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when the
apostles had first proclaimed the risen Lord. At any rate, these disciples began
to preach the word not only to other Jews, but also to Greeks as well.
Of course, Jesus had said it would be this way. He had commissioned His apostles
to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19). He had
talked of having "other sheep not of this fold" speaking of the Greeks as
opposed to the "lost sheep of Israel" with whom He chiefly dealt during His
personal ministry on earth (John 10:16).
The Effect of Preaching Christ
"And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned
to the Lord. And the news about them reached the ears of the church at
Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. (Acts 11:21,22).
When men and women teach others the gospel, there is another partner in the
effort. The "hand of the Lord" is in the proclamation of the gospel to the lost.
Later, Paul would refer to teachers of the gospel as "God's fellow workers" (1
Corinthians 3:9). How can anyone who professes to be a believer not desire such
a partnership? To teach the gospel is every Christian's duty and privilege.
It is implied that not everyone who believed turned to the Lord, though a "large
number" of them did. It is too bad that it cannot be said that "all who believed
turned to the Lord." Also, this means that there must be a difference between
"believing" and "turning" to the Lord. Jesus talked of believers who did not
confess Him because they desired the approval of men (John 12:42,43). Do you
think that some believers at Antioch failed to "turn to the Lord" for the same
reason? I highly expect so, given the climate of persecution.
Believers who turn to the Lord are those that obey His gospel. This would be
those who are baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38,
8:12). This accomplishes, by the power of the grace of God and the blood of
Christ, one's sins being washed away (Acts 22:16).
Encouragement to Remain True to the Lord
"Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to
encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a
good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers
were brought to the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he
had found him he brought him to Antioch." (Acts 23-26a).
All this, the sacrifice of Christ for our sins, the teaching of the gospel by
disciples, and the reception of it by the lost unto salvation from sins and a
new eternal hope; is by God's grace. When Barnabas witnessed this, he rejoiced.
The goal of the persecution had been to deter or stop the gospel, but it had
only succeeded in causing it to be spread further.
Barnabas began at once to encourage these new disciples to remain true to the
Lord. Of course, not everyone does. Persecution will drive some away; apathy
others. We must encourage one another to remember our destiny if we remain true
to the Lord. Salvation to too precious a gift to treat it lightly (Hebrews
10:23-25; 34-39).
Barnabas is known for his ability to encourage others. In fact, "Barnabas" is
only a nickname given to him by the apostles. His real name was Joseph. The name
"Barnabas" means "Son of Encouragement". It's good for everybody to have a few
like Barnabas around. The lost were converted and the converted were encouraged
to become strong and remain "true to the Lord."
The New Name
"And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught
considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians at
Antioch." (Acts 11:23-26).
After having gone to Tarsus to get the new convert Saul, only recently a
persecutor of the church himself, Barnabas returns with Saul and they work with
the church at Antioch for a year. What an encouragement he must have been to
Saul, for most believers were still afraid of him. Later, Barnabas and Saul
(soon to be known as Paul) will travel through Asia Minor together establishing
many churches in many different cities. Antioch would become their
"headquarters" from where they would launch their missions and return after
completing them.
It was during this year in which Barnabas and Saul are at Antioch that the
disciples were first called "Christians". The disciples were followers of
Christ. A disciple of Jesus is happy to wear His name. Later, Peter tells
disciples to "in that name (that is, in the name "Christian" -J.Q.) let him
glorify God." (1 Peter 4:16). Though the enemies of Christ may speak the name
with a sneer, disciples wear it joyfully. The Lord has been sanctified in our
hearts (1 Peter 3:15).
Not every believer becomes a disciple, but every disciple is a Christian. "And
there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that
has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).
By Jon W. Quinn
From Expository Files 4.8; August 1997
