Reference: Christian
Easton
the name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were known among themselves were "brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints," "believers." But as distinguishing them from the multitude without, the name "Christian" came into use, and was universally accepted. This name occurs but three times in the New Testament (Ac 11:26; 26:28; 1Pe 4:16).
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and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
Fausets
The name first given at Antioch to Christ's followers. In the New Testament it only occurs in 1Pe 4:16; Ac 11:26; 26:27-28. Their name among themselves was "brethren," "disciples," "those of the way" (Ac 6:1,3; 9:2), "saints" (Ro 1:7). The Jews, since they denied that Jesus is the Christ, would never originate the name "Christians," but called them "Nazarenes" (Ac 24:5). The Gentiles confounded them with the Jews, and thought them to be a Jewish sect. But a new epoch arose in the church's development when, at Antioch, idolatrous Gentiles (not merely Jewish proselytes from the Gentiles, as the eunuch, a circumcised proselyte, and Cornelius, an uncircumcised proselyte of the gate) were converted.
Then the Gentiles needed a new name to designate people who were Jews, neither by birth nor religion. And the people of Antioch were famous for their readiness in giving names: Partisans of Christ, Christiani, as Caesariani, partisans of Caesar; a Latin name, as Antioch had become a Latin city. But the name was divinely ordered (as chreematizoo always expresses, Ac 11:26), as the new name to mark the new era, namely, that of the church's gospel missions to the Gentiles. The rarity of its use in the New Testament marks its early date, when as yet it was a name of reproach and hardly much recognized among the disciples. So in our age "Methodist," a term originally given in reproach, has gradually come to be adopted by Wesley's disciples themselves. Blunt well says: "if the Acts were a fiction, is it possible that this unobtrusive evidence of the progress of a name would have been found in it?"
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In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were despised in the daily ministration.
In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were despised in the daily ministration.
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, and full of the holy ghost and wisdom, which we may appoint to this needful business:
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, and full of the holy ghost and wisdom, which we may appoint to this needful business:
and desired of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
and desired of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of debate unto all the Jews throughout the world; And a maintainer of sedition, of the sect of the Nazarenes;
We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of debate unto all the Jews throughout the world; And a maintainer of sedition, of the sect of the Nazarenes;
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know well thou believest." Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
To all you of Rome beloved of God, and saints by calling. Grace be with you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
To all you of Rome beloved of God, and saints by calling. Grace be with you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
If any man suffer as a Christian man, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on his behalf.
If any man suffer as a Christian man, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on his behalf.
Hastings
This name, from very early times the distinctive title of the followers of Jesus Christ, occurs only thrice in NT (Ac 11:26; 26:28; 1Pe 4:16).
1. Time and place of origin.
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And Nathanael said unto him, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
The number of them that believed in the Lord, both of men and women, grew more and more
and desired of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Then Ananias answered, "Lord I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
But when the brethren knew of that, they brought him to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come into Antioch, spake unto the Greeks, and preached the Lord Jesus.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
There were at Antioch, in the congregation, certain prophets and teachers: as Barnabas and Symeon called Niger; And Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, Herod the tetrarch's nurse-fellow, and Saul.
and thence departed by ship to Antioch, from whence they were delivered unto the grace of God, to the work which they had fulfilled.
Then came certain from Jewry and taught the brethren, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved."
Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole congregation, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas, called also Barsabbas, and Silas, which were chief men among the brethren:
Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch teaching, and preaching the word of the Lord with other many.
And as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong, or an evil deed to ye, reason would that I should hear you: but if it be a question of words, or of names, or of your law, look ye to it yourselves. For I will be no judge in such matters."
And he departed from Ephesus and came unto Caesarea: and ascended and saluted the congregation,
When divers waxed hard hearted, and believed not, but spake evil of the way of the Lord, and that before the multitude: he departed from them; And separated the disciples away; And disputed daily in the school of one called Tyrannus.
We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of debate unto all the Jews throughout the world; And a maintainer of sedition, of the sect of the Nazarenes;
We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of debate unto all the Jews throughout the world; And a maintainer of sedition, of the sect of the Nazarenes;
But this I confess unto thee, that after that way, which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets,
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
But we will hear of thee what thou thinkest. For we have heard of this sect, that everywhere it is spoken against."
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's chosen? It is God that justifieth:
Distribute unto the necessity of the saints, and diligently to harbour.
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Mercurius, and the brethren which are with them.
Now therefore as elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering,
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that dwell here and there as strangers throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia;
If so be that ye have tasted how pleasant the Lord is,
If ye be railed upon for the name of Christ; happy are ye. For the spirit of glory and the spirit of God resteth upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of: but on your part he is glorified. See that none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or an evil doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. read more. If any man suffer as a Christian man, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on his behalf.
If any man suffer as a Christian man, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on his behalf.
Morish
A title first applied to professed believers at Antioch. Ac 11:26. Agrippa used it when addressing Paul. Ac 26:28. Peter accepts it, saying that to suffer as a 'Christian ' is a cause of thanksgiving. 1Pe 4:16.
It was not long, alas! before the outward profession of Christ became separated from true faith in Him in the great mass who were recognised as Christians in the world, and in practice they became anything but followers of Christ, as both scripture and history show. To learn what Christianity is according to God, we must turn, not to the great professing body, but to the scriptures, which testify clearly of the declension which was even then begun.
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and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
If any man suffer as a Christian man, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on his behalf.
Smith
Christian.
The disciples, we are told,
were first called Christians at Antioch on the Orontes, somewhere about A.D. 43. They were known to each other as, and were among themselves called, brethren,
disciples,
believers,
saints,
The name "Christian," which, in the only other cases where it appears in the New Testament,
is used contemptuously, could not have been applied by the early disciples to themselves, but was imposed upon them by the Gentile world. There is no reason to suppose that the name "Christian" of itself was intended as a term of scurrility or abuse, though it would naturally be used with contempt.
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The number of them that believed in the Lord, both of men and women, grew more and more
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to couple himself with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him and believed not that he was a disciple.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send succour unto the brethren which dwelt in Jewry,
Then came certain from Jewry and taught the brethren, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved."
and gave them letters in their hands after this manner, "The apostles, elders, and brethren send greetings unto the brethren which are of the gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the meaning of the spirit: for he maketh intercession for the saints according to the pleasure of God.
Now go I unto Jerusalem, and minister unto the saints.
Watsons
CHRISTIAN, a follower of the religion of Christ. It is probable that the name Christian, like that of Nazarenes and Galileans, was given to the disciples of our Lord in reproach or contempt. What confirms this opinion is, that the people of Antioch in Syria, Ac 11:26, where they were first called Christians, are observed by Zosimus, Procopius, and Zonaras, to have been remarkable for their scurrilous jesting. Some have indeed thought that this name was given by the disciples to themselves; others, that it was imposed on them by divine authority; in either of which cases surely we should have met with it in the subsequent history of the Acts, and in the Apostolic Epistles, all of which were written some years after; whereas it is found in but two more places in the New Testament, Ac 26:28, where a Jew is the speaker, and in 1Pe 4:16, where reference appears to be made to the name as imposed upon them by their enemies. The word used, Ac 11:26, signifies simply to be called or named, and when Doddridge and a few others take it to imply a divine appointment, they disregard the usus loquendi [established acceptation of the term] which gives no support to that opinion. The words of Tacitus, when speaking of the Christians persecuted by Nero, are remarkable, "vulgus Christianos appellabat," "the vulgar called them Christians." Epiphanius says, that they were called Jesseans, either from Jesse, the father of David, or, which is much more probable, from the name of Jesus, whose disciples they were. They were denominated Christians, A.D. 42 or 43; and though the name was first given reproachfully, they gloried in it, as expressing their adherence to Christ, and they soon generally assumed it.
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and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
If any man suffer as a Christian man, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on his behalf.