AND THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST IN ANTIOCH
Who were the Christians according to the bible?
Read!
Acts 11:19-21
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
We see in the above scripture that “Jews” from Jerusalem went to Antioch and began preaching to the Grecians which are Greek speaking Jews or Hellenized Jews according to the original text. Let’s keep reading. And Read!
Acts 11:22
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
In response to what they had been hearing the assembly in Jerusalem sends Barnabas. Barnabas gets Paul and it says they spent a year TEACHING them. And Read!
Acts 11:26
26 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.
1. Question: Who was teaching and who was being taught?
2. Question: What does the word “disciple” mean?
3. Question: If the word “disciple” means student then who were the students in the text?
1. Answer: Jews were teaching Grecians or Hellenized Jews and I will say Greeks also.
2. Answer: The word “disciple” means student or learner.
3. Answer: The ones being referred to in the text as “disciples” are the Grecians and I will also say Greeks. They were being taught by the Jews Barnabas and Saul or Paul and others.
Proof texts - Read!
Acts 13:1
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and TEACHERS; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
The teachers mentioned above were all Jews. And Read!
Acts 15:7-9
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, 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.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the DISCIPLES, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Last Question: Again, who were called Christians? Was it the teachers which were Jews? Or was it the disciples which were Grecians and Greeks that are called Gentiles in Acts 15?
Answer: THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS first in Antioch.
