Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 11:26

"and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people, and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." — Acts 11:26 (ASV)

The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.—The term for “were called” is not the word usually translated this way. Better, perhaps, got the name of Christians. The Emperor Julian (Misopog., p. 344) notes the tendency to invent nicknames as a form of satire, characteristic of the population of Antioch in his time. The same tone of playful ridicule seems to have prevailed when the new faith first appeared.

The origin of a name that was later to be so mighty in the history of the world is a subject full of interest. In its form it was essentially Latin, following the pattern of the Pompeiani, Sullani, and other party names. And so it would seem to have grown out of the contact of the new society with the Romans stationed at Antioch, who, learning that its members acknowledged Christos as their head, gave them the name Christiani. In the Gospels, it is true, however (Matthew 22:16 and other passages), we find the analogous term Herodiani, but there, also, we may legitimately trace the influence of Roman associations.

Regarding its use in the New Testament, we note the following:

1. that the disciples never use it of themselves. They keep to such terms as “the brethren” (Acts 15:1), “the saints” (Acts 9:13), and “those of the way” (Acts 9:2).
2. that the hostile Jews use the more scornful term “Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5).
3. that the term Christianus is used as a neutral and sufficiently respectful word by Agrippa in Acts 26:23, and at a somewhat later date, when it had obviously gained wider currency, as the name that brought with it the danger of suffering and persecution (1 Peter 4:16).

It was natural that a name first given by outsiders should soon be accepted by believers as a title in which to glory.

Tradition ascribes its origin to Euodius, the first Bishop of Antioch (Bingham, Ant. II. i. § 4), and Ignatius, his successor, uses it frequently. Ignatius also formed from it the hardly less important word Christianismos, as opposed to Judaismos (Philadelph. c. 6), expressing the whole system of faith and life we know as “Christianity.”

It may be worthwhile to note that another ecclesiastical term, hardly less important in the history of Christendom, also seems to have originated at Antioch, and that we can trace to it the name Catholic as well as Christian (Ignatius, Smyrn. c. 8).

We learn from Tertullian (Apol. c. 3) that the name was often wrongly pronounced as Chrestiani, and its meaning not understood. Even the name Christos was pronounced and explained as Chrestos (meaning 'good').

The Christians, on their side, accepted the mistake as a nomen et omen—an unconscious witness from the heathen that they were good and worthy in their lives, and that their Lord was good and gracious (1 Peter 2:3).