Expressions of Faith. Christians
24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Acts 11:24-26
Verse 19 records that some of those present in Jerusalem at Pentecost headed to Antioch to preach to the Greeks. Lots of Greeks and probably others were converted.
The church in Jerusalem heard about this and sent Barnabas to Antioch.
Why Barnabas?
Acts 4:36 describes
“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”)”
Who better to send than a Cypriot known for his encouragement?
Barnabas
- Encourages those in Antioch.
- Goes to Tarsus, finds Saul, and brings him to Antioch.
Barnabas and Saul teach in Antioch for a year.
Verse 26c seems like an afterthought.
“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
Some commentaries indicate this was often an insult by Jews at that time. I doubt that those supposedly slurred by the term felt that way. Early converts considered persecution to be a sign of their faith. As Christianity spread, the term came to indicate a follower of Christ.
I suspect that the teaching of Barnabas and Saul had a lot to do with the coining of the term.
What was it about believers in Antioch that caused the people there to call them Christians?
When was the last time someone described you as Christian?
If it's been awhile, ask God to show you the opportunities He has for you to be Christian.
I'd appreciate your feedback on Blogger!
Thought provoking question! 🤔
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