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.
Ver. 26. Called Christians] Called so by divine direction, as the word χρηματισαι signifieth. There were, saith a learned antiquary, certain heretics who (as the Samaritans joined Jewish ceremonies with heathenish rites, so they) joined Christ and Moses, law and gospel, baptism and circumcision. (Godwin's Antiq. Heb.) Of their beginning readActs 15:2. These were called Nazarites; either of malice by the Jews, to bring the greater disgrace upon Christian religion, or else because at first they were true though weak Nazarites, that is, Christians misled by Peter's Judaizing at Antioch, Galatians 2:11,13. Hence it is thought that the Church at Antioch, in detestation of this newly bred heresy, fastened upon them by the name of Nazarites, forsook that name, and called themselves Christians. But what a shameful thing is it, that the most honourable name of Christian is in this day in Italy and at Rome a name of reproach, and usually abused to signify a fool or a dolt. (Fulke Not. on Rhem. Test.)
First in Antioch] Which had been the residence and bare the name of Antiochus, that bloody persecutor. Here then that prophecy was most sweetly fulfilled, Isaiah 60:14; "The sons of the afflicters shall come bending to thee," &c. And so it was, somewhat over a hundred years since, at Spira in Germany, where those of the reformed religion were first called Protestants. (Parei: Medul.) Howbeit some have observed that this name is not so new, but of an ancient standing; for they fetch it from 2 Chronicles 24:19; "Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them again unto the Lord, and they testified against them; but they would not give ear:" which latter clause the Vulgate interpreter (and the Douay doctors in their English translation of the Old Testament follow him) rendereth thus: Quos Protestantes illi audire nolebant. Dr Poyns also (a Popish writer) tells us, that it was foretold in the Old Testament that the Protestants were a malignant Church, and he allegeth for proof this place in the Chronicles, though little to his purpose. A better divine tells us Englishmen, that we were never Protestants indeed till we took the late protestation, that brought us into the band of the covenant, and is to us as circumcision once to the Israelites, a Gilgal, the rolling away of our reproach; there being nothing, as some could hit us in the teeth (but untruly and uncharitably), that made us differ from Rome but a bare proclamation.