Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: (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.
As the Holy Ghost hath been pleased to have it recorded, where the honored spot was, from whence the Lord's family first derived the high privilege of being called Christians, I think it well merits our attention. It should seem, that before, and about this period, the faithful in Christ Jesus, were variously distinguished in names, who spake of them in derision, called them Nazarenes, Galileans, men who trouble our city, and teach customs which are not lawful: Acts 16:20-21. who have turned the world upside down: Acts 17:21, and, as they called Paul, a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: Acts 14:5. so no doubt the whole community were considered the same. And, whether the name of Christians was first given to them by their enemies, or by friends, is not said, though I confess to me it appears, as though it evidently came from the Lord. But one thing is certain, the scoffer used it in reproach. And for many generations after, as well as then in Antioch, the foes to the cross considered nothing more opprobrious, than when they called a man, Christian. Paul said for himself and companions, that they were esteemed the filth and off-scouring of all things, 1 Corinthians 4:13
I have already said, that to me, I confess, it appears to have come immediately from the Lord. And my reasons are these. It was the Lord's promise, that when the Gentiles should see Christ's righteousness, and all kings his glory, that then the Church should be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord should name, Isaiah 65:15; Isaiah 65:15. And the name itself doth not simply mean a follower of Christ, or one professing Christ, (though the enemies of Christ, perhaps mean no other, when they call the Lord's people Christians), but the name means anointed ones. Thus in that beautiful passage of the prophet, where Christ is represented as going forth for the salvation of his people, it is added, even for salvation with thine anointed, Habakkuk 3:13. That this passage refers to Christ, is beyond all dispute, for this going forth can mean no other, and so Micah describes Christ, whose goings forth have been from of old from everlasting, Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6. And the Church, is specially, and properly, Christ's people. In proof, see Psalms 110:3; Matthew 1:21; John 17:6. And when it is said by Habakkuk, that the Lord went forth for salvation with his anointed; though the word is in the singular, yet it is put as meaning the whole body. In a similar passage in Zechariah, the word to the same purport is plural. These are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth, Zechariah 4:14. And if, as may be supposed, (though I presume not to speak decidedly), those two mean the Lord's witnesses, Jew and Gentile, these correspond to the anointing of Christ's Church, which is but one and the same, Song of Solomon 6:9; John 10:16; Revelation 11:3-4. Some indeed render the words of the Prophet, when he saith, thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed, even for salvation for thy Christ's, that is the same word anointed, for Christ means anointed. So much for the name.
I must not dismiss the subject of the Church being first called Christians at Antioch, without remarking further, that supposing, (as I have ventured to state, the hand of the Lord was in the appointment, what a singular mercy it was, that from such a place, and at such a time, the Lord should Mr 1-16. And is it not so now? yea, hath it not been the same in all ages? Psalms 2:1 throughout. Reader! depend upon it, the truths of our God were never more opposed than in the present hour. I mean the pure, distinguishing truths, which peculiarly belong to the Gospel. Men may be called Christians, yea, indeed, they are called so, because they are born under the meridian of Christianity. And, for the same reason, the same men had they been born in Turkey, would have been called Mohammedans. But a man must be new-horn to be really and truly a Christian, as those at Antioch were, when branded by the carnal at that place, with the name of Christian. And if you, my brother, are truly a Christian, an anointed one in Christ by regeneration, and know, as you cannot then but know by that blessed work of the Holy Ghost wrought in you, your union with Christ and communion in all that belongs to Christ's being justified wholly by Him, sanctified in Him, and professing before all the world, that your everlasting All depends upon Him; an open profession of these glorious truths, and a corresponding conduct in life and conversation, answering to the same, will bring upon you reproach as much as true believers in Christ did the saints of old at this famous city, when the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. The offence of the cross hath never ceased. And unless men temporize, and give in to the conformity of the times, now, as much as then, they who will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution, 2 Timothy 3:17. There is a fashionable gospel in the present day, which all the world may follow, and yet escape reproach. But none who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth, will go free. Reader! it will be your province of duty, now I have performed mine on this subject, to enquire after the real cause for which you are called Christian. And I shall leave the subject with you, only first requesting you to consult those two striking Scriptures of the Lord Jesus on the point, as both addressed to Pharisees, Luke 16:14-15 and John 3:3.