They Were Called Christians

Shelby G. Floyd

June 8, 2006

A name is used. to distinguish, describe or designate a person or a thing: therefore, a name is a very important thing. Approximately 700 years before Christ came into the world, Isaiah the Messianic Prophet, spoke of the time when God would give his people a new name. He said, “Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 56:5.) Just a few chapters later the prophet added these words, “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and. thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” (Isaiah. 62: 1-2.)

God Would Give His People a New Name

An analysis of these verses indicates several facts concerning the new name which God would give his people. First, a new name was to be given within God’s house which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (I Tim. 3: 15.) Therefore this new name would not be given until God’s house, the church, would be established. God’s house, the church, was established on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the new name could not be given until after the establishment of the church.

Second, the name that God would give his people wou1d be a name that would be better than the name of the sons and daughters of men. This simply means that it would be a name that would transcend any name that belonged to mere men, and it indicates that this name would be divine and from above, rather than a name originating with men.

Third, this name was to be an everlasting name that would not be cut off or changed. The new name then was to be a name that would last as long as time would endure.

Fourth, this new name would be given only after the righteousness of God would go forth from Jerusalem as brightness, and the salvation thereof would go forth as a lamp that burneth. Righteousness and salvation are here used as interchangeable terms. Salvation or righteousness did not go forth from Jerusalem until the day that the church was established in Acts chapter 2. Therefore, the name would not be given until after the day of Pentecost: the day that 3,000 people were saved from their sins and added to the Lord’s church.

Fifth, this new name was to be given to Jews and to Gentiles, and was not to be restricted to the Jews only. For the prophet said that the new name would be given after the Gentiles would see the righteousness of God and all the kings of the nations would see his glory. Therefore, the name would not be given until after the Gentiles entered into the salvation in Christ Jesus.

Sixth, after all of the above things would have happened, they would be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord would name.

The First Gentile Convert

The Roman Centurion Cornelius was the first Gentile to see the righteousness of God, and to experience the salvation in Christ Jesus. He was admonished to send for Simon Peter, who would tell him what to do to be saved. Peter did this and later spoke of the matter when he said, “...Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” (Acts 15: 7.) Therefore, Peter by preaching the gospel to Cornelius and his household, introduced the Gentiles into the church and into salvation.

The Disciples Were Called Christians First in Antioch

Even after Cornelius heard the gospel and was commanded to be baptized; some of the members of the church traveled as far as Phenice, Cyprus and Antioch, but they preached the word to none but to the Jews only. However, some of these same men when they came to Antioch and Syria preached unto the Grecians, the Lord Jesus; and God’s hand was with them and a number believed and turned to the Lord. When the church at Jerusalem heard about all these things they sent Barnabas that he should go to Antioch. And when he came to Antioch and saw God’s favor upon the Gentiles, he exhorted them all with purpose of heart that they should cleave to the Lord. It was during this time that great numbers of Gentiles were coming into the church that Barnabas departed from Antioch to Tarsus to find Paul. And. the Bible says, “And 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.) In this passage we have the fulfillment of the six facts enumerated from the prophecies of Isaiah.

But there are some who insist that the name Christian is a name of derision that was called upon the disciples by the enemies of the followers of Christ, but is this correct? The author of Acts says, “...they assembled themselves with the church.” Who assembled themselves with the church? Obviously, the antecedent of “they” refers to Paul and. Barnabas. And the scripture says, “...they taught much people.” Who taught much people? Paul and Barnabas taught much people. And then the same passage says, “…And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Who called the disciples Christians first in Antioch? In truth the same persons who “assembled themselves with the church for a whole year,” and the same persons who “taught much people” during that year, are the same persons who “called the disciples Christians first in Antioch.” And since the antecedent of the pronoun “they” in the two previous clauses refers to Paul and Barnabas; obviously then the subject of the verb “were called” refers to Barnabas and Paul,

Almost Persuaded to be a Christian

King .Agrippa once replied to Paul and said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:28.) If the name Christian be not of divine origin, and be not approved by God, why then would Paul be trying to persuade Agrippa to be a Christian? And why would Agrippa be almost persuaded to be a Christian?

Let us glorify God by wearing the new name Christian. (1 Peter 4:16.)