Called Christians, Acts 11:25-30

The disciples called Christians, 25-30

Verses 25-26: Antioch Syria is some 150 miles southeast of Tarsus, where Barnabas found Saul (cf. Acts 9:30) and “brought him unto Antioch.” Luke summarizes an entire year in their assembling with the church at Antioch and teaching the people. This is about AD 41-44 – before the dearth “in the days of Claudius Cæsar.”

 

“called Christians” – at Antioch is the first occurrence of the disciples of the Lord called by the name or description “Christian.” They “were called” (χρηματισαι) – that is, the passive implies they did not call themselves Christians (χριστιανους), but that the unbelievers of Antioch so called them. The unbelieving King Agrippa speaks the word in Acts 26:28, and Peter uses it as a name under which believers suffered (I Peter 4:16). Other New Testament designations of the followers of Christ are: descriptively by Luke, the disciples (Acts 1:15, et al.), believers (Acts 5:14), brethren/the brethren (Acts 6:3, 9:30; et al.), the disciples of the Lord (Acts 9:1), any of this way (Acts 9:2), the saints (Acts 9:32, et al.); and derisively by Tertullus, the sect of the Nazarenes (Acts 24:5).[i] The Latin affix “ian/ianous” added to the Greek word “Christ” carries the idea of belonging to, pertaining to, or origin from Christ.

 

Verses 27-28: “in these days” During this year (v. 26), prophets from the city of Jerusalem came to Antioch. One of them – named Agabus – prophesied of a “great dearth” (a famine; cf. Genesis 41:36, 54; Acts 7:11) which would happen in the days of Claudius Cæsar.[ii] Claudius ruled in Rome AD 41-54. This may be the famine that Josephus mentioned in Antiquities Book XX. If so, then this famine must have occurred circa AD 46.[iii] If the order of chapters 11 and 12 is chronological, Agabus gave the prophecy circa AD 42 – that is, before the events relating to Herod in Acts chapter 12.[iv]

 

Verses 29-30: The disciples at Antioch, rather than first prepare for themselves, instead “determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa…which also they did” They determined what to do. They accomplished what they determined to do, sending their relief by Barnabas and Saul to the elders at the churches in Jerusalem and Judæa.[v] “every man according to his ability” God’s standard is each according to his ability. He does not require what we do not have, neither what someone else has. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (I Corinthians 4:2).

 

Christians love their brethren (which is in deed, not just words).

• Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
• James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
• I John 3:17-18 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Christians give of what they have (not of what they have not, or take from another).

• 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
• 2 Corinthians 8:11-12 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it isaccepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
• See also I Timothy 6:17-19 and Philippians 2:4.

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[i] Jesus of the city of Nazareth was called a Nazarene (ναζωραιος Matthew 2:23), and the name was attached to his disciples (ναζωραιων) – at least by Tertullus on this occasion.
[ii] The role of prophet or prophecy is described in the New Testament as a gift of the Spirit (cf. Romans 12:6; I Corinthians 12:10, 27-31; 13:2; 14:1–6, 22–25, 29-40; Ephesians 3:5; 4:11).
[iii] “Antiquities of the Jews,” Complete Works, Book XX 2:5 and 5:2, pp. 416, 418. “Now [Helena’s] coming [circa AD 45-46] was of very great advantage to the people of Jerusalem; for whereas a famine did oppress them at that time, and many people died for want of what was necessary to procure food withal, queen Helena sent some of her servants to Alexandria with money to buy a great quantity of corn, and others of them to Cyprus, to bring a cargo of dried figs. And as soon as they were come back, and had brought those provisions, which was done very quickly, she distributed food to those that were in want of it...” “Then came Tiberius Alexander as successor to Fadus; he was the son of Alexander the alabarch of Alexandria, which Alexander was a principal person among all his contemporaries, both for his family and wealth: he was also more eminent for his piety than this his son Alexander, for he did not continue in the religion of his country. Under these procurators that great famine happened in Judea, in which queen Helena bought corn in Egypt at a great expense, and distributed it to those that were in want, as I have related already.” Matthew Henry (Commentary VI, p. 146) thinks this occurred in the second to fourth year of Claudius Caesar, which is circa AD 44-45.
[iv] The prophet Agabus is mentioned again in Acts 21:10-11.
[v] Relief is διακονιαν, recognizing it not just as alms, but a ministry to the churches of Jerusalem and Judæa.