WHEN the Gospel was winning its early triumphs under the preaching of the apostles and converts were multiplying greatly in Jerusalem the people had no difficulty in naming the new movement. Well accustomed as they were to the old sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, etc., they simple recognized in these people a new sect, that of the Nazarenes.
In a Gentile city such as Antioch the case was different. When a great conversion work sprang up in their midst and many believers were found amongst them they had to distinguish them by some distinctive title. They had no precedents to guide them and hence there was nothing for it but to scrutinize and observe them until seizing their salient feature a descriptive name should occur to them. At last the looked-for word was found, “And the disciples were called CHRISTIANS first in Antioch” (Acts 11:2626And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)).
The word itself was just a tag or label attached to these early disciples for convenience sake, yet its choice was a happy one and consequently we find the name soon traveling far outside the confines of Antioch.
It seems then that the name was at once recognized as appropriate and not just a fancy name capriciously given. This would lead us to inquire what there was about these early converts at Antioch which suggested such a title to the onlookers. If we read Acts 11:19-2619Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:19‑26) we shall see.
1. The evangelists who visited Antioch were not men of note. Had they been, one of their names might have been seized upon and some kind of a title constructed out of it. No, they were only humble ordinary strangers from a distance but they were full of one subject. They spake “preaching the Lord Jesus.” Jesus as Lord was their one and only theme.
2. Consequently when a great number believed they “turned unto the Lord.” Becoming the Object of their faith He became to them the supreme Master and Authority. From all the powers that formerly had held dominion over them they turned to Jesus and He was their Lord.
3. When a man of note, Barnabas, did arrive on the scene he exhorted them all, “that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord.” He said in effect, “Let nothing divert you from the Lord. He has been preached to you, you have turned to Him, now let nothing turn you aside from personal dealings with Him and from wholehearted subjection to His authority.” He only the more firmly attached the converts to the Lord Himself.
4. Consequently the work went on in its original purity and power and “much people was added to the Lord.” The disciples were numbered now by hundreds rather than scores, and what is more important they were all still marked, by subjection to the Lord.
Such very personal dealings with the Lord as these left their inevitable mark upon these disciples. As they learned His will and were subject to it the very mind of Christ was formed in them and became expressed in their lives. Just as the molten metal is run into the coin-mold and takes on the image and superscription of the King, so they had the image and superscription of Christ upon them. It did not need much discernment to give them a name. The Antioch folk soon said, “These are Christians!”
More might well be said, but we are going to content ourselves for the moment with the raising of a question which might well give rise to some serious thoughts and even heart-searching on the part of both writer and readers. It is this, —
If up to the present the whole matter had not been raised and the folk in the district where we live were watching us wondering what would be an appropriate name to give us, is it at all likely that they would hit upon the name of CHRISTIAN; and if not, what other name would our characters and lives be likely to suggest?