John Calvin 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)

He adds afterward that such a holy concord was blessed from heaven, for this was no small honor that the holy name of Christians began there for the whole world. Though the apostles had been a long time at Jerusalem, God had not yet seen fit to grant His Church there this excellent title of His Son.

Whether it was because at Antioch many people had grown together into one body, of both Jews and Gentiles, or whether it was because the Church could be better ordered in time of peace, or because they were bolder to confess their faith, there were indeed Christians both at Jerusalem and also in Samaria before that time. We know that Jerusalem was the first fountain from which Christianity flowed.

And what else is it to be a disciple of Christ but to be a Christian? But when they plainly began to be called what they were, the use of the name greatly served to set forth the glory of Christ, because by this means they referred all their religion to Christ alone. This was, therefore, a most excellent honor for the city of Antioch, that Christ brought forth His name from there like a standard, by which it might be made known to all the world that there was a people whose captain was Christ, and who gloried in His name.

But if Rome had such a pretext for pride, who would be able to endure the proud boastings of the Pope and his adherents? They would then, not without cause, thunder out that Rome is the mother and head of all Churches. But it is well that, seeing they claim everything for themselves, when it comes to the actual matter, they are found to be entirely vain. Indeed, Antioch itself plainly proves that the status of one place is not permanent.

Suppose we grant the Romans these plausible titles—for instance, we have been sometimes (that is, 'we once were')—will they still be so bold as to take one-half of that which belongs to Antioch? And is the dignity of Antioch greater now because the Christians received their name from there? Indeed, it is rather a manifest mirror of the horrible vengeance of God. For, since nothing is to be seen there but hideous desolation, it remains that we learn to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and that we know that unthankful people are not granted so much liberty that they may freely mock God.