The Way
Where They Were First Called Christians
People given a new name
Story
The believers scattered after the death of Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, came to Antioch and told Greeks, too, about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
When the church in Jerusalem heard this news, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas saw the grace of God there and was glad. He urged them all to stay true to the Lord with all their hearts. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year the two met with the church and taught many people.
It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. Around that time a prophet named Agabus came down from Jerusalem. Moved by the Holy Spirit, he announced that a great famine would come over the whole world. The disciples in Antioch decided to help the brothers in Judea, each as much as they could, and they sent their gift to the elders of the church in Judea by Barnabas and Saul.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of the Lord and of Paul
It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Barnabas saw the grace of God and was glad, and he urged everyone to stay true to the Lord with all their hearts.
The disciples decided, each as much as they could, to send help to the brothers living in Judea.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Acts 11:19–30
Background
Antioch of Syria stood on the Orontes River. It was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, after Rome and Alexandria. “Christian” means a person who belongs to Christ.
Pause and Reflect
Could people who watch my life tell whom I follow?