Acts 11:26 kjv
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.
Acts 11:26 nkjv
And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 11:26 niv
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Acts 11:26 esv
and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Acts 11:26 nlt
When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)
Acts 11 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 11:26 | "And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." | Identified believers with Christ |
| 1 Peter 4:16 | "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name." | Suffering for Christ |
| 1 Peter 4:14 | "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." | Reproached for Christ's name |
| Matthew 16:18 | "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." | The Church founded on Christ |
| John 1:41 | "He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated is Christ)." | Messiah identified as Christ |
| John 11:27 | "She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”" | Declaration of Christ |
| Acts 26:28 | "Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time you are trying to make me a Christian.”" | Identity of Christian |
| Isaiah 62:2 | "The nations shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD shall give." | New name from the Lord |
| Jeremiah 31:33 | "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people." | New covenant internalised |
| Hebrews 8:10 | "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." | New covenant promises |
| 1 Corinthians 1:2 | "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in every place, both theirs and ours:" | Called by name of the Lord |
| Philippians 2:10 | "so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the ground," | The supremacy of Jesus' name |
| Galatians 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity in Christ |
| Colossians 3:11 | "Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." | Christ is all |
| Ephesians 3:15 | "from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named," | Named from the Father |
| Romans 1:7 | "To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." | Called saints |
| Acts 4:12 | "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”" | Salvation in Christ's name |
| 2 Corinthians 5:17 | "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." | New creation in Christ |
| John 15:18 | "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it has hated you." | World's hatred towards believers |
| Acts 11:21 | "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord." | Growth through the Lord's power |
Acts 11 verses
Acts 11 26 Meaning
The believers were first called Christians in Antioch. This signifies the initial identification of followers of Jesus Christ with a distinct name that set them apart from their Jewish heritage and other contemporary religious groups. This appellation marked a significant step in the early church's identity formation, rooted in their shared faith in Christ.
Acts 11 26 Context
In Acts chapter 11, the narrative shifts from Peter's ministry to the Gentiles in Caesarea to the burgeoning work of the Holy Spirit among the Gentiles in Antioch. Barnabas, sent from Jerusalem to assess the situation, found a vibrant community of faith and brought Paul (Saul) to assist him. They spent a significant amount of time in Antioch, teaching and nurturing the new believers. It was in this diverse and multicultural environment that the followers of Jesus were first identified by a specific name. This occurred before the decree from the Jerusalem council regarding the Gentiles, highlighting the organic growth and developing identity of the early church.
Acts 11 26 Word Analysis
And (καὶ - kai): A conjunctive particle indicating continuation or connection, linking this statement to the previous events.
it came to pass (εγενετο - egeneto): A common introductory phrase in the Greek text, signaling an event or occurrence.
that (ωστε - hoste): A conjunction expressing result or consequence, indicating that what follows is a direct outcome of their being assembled.
a whole year (επι εν ετος ολον - epi en etos holon): A duration emphasizing sustained effort and teaching, signifying a period of consistent spiritual nurture.
they assembled (συνεχωθησαν - synēchthēsan): While the traditional translation "assembled" captures the idea, this Greek word can also imply "they were gathered" or "they came together," suggesting a conscious unity.
with the church (τη εκκλησια - tē ekklēsia): "Ekklēsia" refers to a called-out assembly, the body of believers. The emphasis is on gathering as a corporate body, not just individually.
and taught (εδιδαξαν - edidaxan): This is the second person plural perfect indicative active of διδάσκω (didaskō), meaning "to teach" or "to instruct." It denotes a completed action with continuing results.
a great many people (ικανον τε πλήθος - hikanon te plēthos): "Hikanon" means sufficient or considerable, and "plēthos" means a multitude or crowd. Together, they describe a large number of people who received the teaching.
And the disciples (προσετέθησαν δε και οι μαθηται - prosetethēsan de kai oi mathētai): "Prosetethēsan" from προτίθημι (pro Tithēmi) implies "added to" or "put in addition." It can also carry the sense of "bestowed" or "assigned." It signifies that a new designation was given to them. "Mathētēs" (μαθητής) means "disciple" or "learner."
were first (εχρηματισθησαν τε πρωτοι - chrēmatisthenai te prōtoi): "Chrēmatizō" (χρηματίζω) means to be named, called, or designated. "Prōtoi" (πρῶτοι) means first in order or time. This indicates the inaugural instance of this specific naming.
called Christians (χριστιανοι - christianoi): This is the key term, derived from "Christ" (Χριστός - Christos), meaning "anointed one," with the suffix "-ianos" indicating adherence or belonging to. This name signified a clear adherence to and identification with Jesus Christ, distinct from other identifiers.
They assembled with the church and taught a great many people: This phrase highlights the communal and educational aspect of the early believers' activities. Their gathering was not passive but actively engaged in imparting knowledge.
the disciples were first called Christians: This group identification marks a crucial moment. It signifies an external recognition and possibly self-identification that distinguished them by their relationship to Christ, as opposed to their former ethnic or religious labels.
Acts 11 26 Bonus Section
The term "Christianos" (Χριστιανοί) was a noun in the Greek language. The "-anos" ending was sometimes used to denote association with something, similar to how "Herodianos" meant a follower of Herod. Therefore, "Christianos" literally meant "one belonging to Christ" or "a follower of Christ." Historical evidence, such as writings from Roman historians like Tacitus and Suetonius, suggests the term was in use relatively early and often carried negative connotations or was used with curiosity by the Roman authorities and the general population, highlighting the distinctiveness of this new religious movement. The emergence of this specific name in Antioch, a major cultural hub, suggests the widespread impact of the Gospel in a diverse Gentile population, laying the groundwork for its expansion across the Roman Empire.
Acts 11 26 Commentary
The naming of disciples as "Christians" in Antioch was not a self-appointed title but a designation that arose within their community and was likely recognized by the surrounding populace. This term signifies their primary allegiance and identity was now with Jesus Christ. It distinguished them as followers who bore the name of their Lord, acknowledging His authority and identity. This appellation underscored the transformative power of the Gospel, which created a new community with a unique identity, transcending previous social and ethnic barriers. It foreshadowed the enduring identity and often suffering that would accompany followers of Christ throughout history, as recognized by Peter’s epistles.