-August 21, 2022-
Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,
“Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he 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.”
There was a strong, vibrant church in Antioch. Barnabas recognized the need to teach the saints there and was burdened to find the new convert, Saul, later called Paul, and form a dynamic duo in serving the Lord. Later in Acts 13:2 while the brethren gathered together in Antioch, it says, “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” There was also an impressive list of prophets and teachers gathered there: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul” (Acts 13:1). It was like an all-star team of speakers in Antioch.
Antidotally, there are twenty one cities named Antioch in the U.S. It is just a further indicator about America’s roots in God and His Word. Up until our verse, the early believers were called disciples, followers of the Way or the saints. Now in Antioch, there were first called Christians. The word Christians is only found here in Acts 11:26, and the word Christian is used just twice, once by Peter in 1 Peter 4:16, and once by King Agrippa in Acts 26:28.
The name Christian, and the plural form Christians, really caught on them and has been carried forth to the present day. In fact, followers around the word are called Christians, and our faith is known as Christianity. It is a most appropriate name for followers of Christ because His name is in us. He is in us and we are in Him. Paul wrote in Colossians 1:26-27, “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
I am proud to be called a Christian; it is such a blessing to belong to Christ, to live for Christ, and to serve Christ. It carries a great weight to bear His name, and to suffer shame for His name. It all started in the city of Antioch in the first century and has spread all over the globe. Are you a Christian?
Have a blessed Lord’s Day bearing, blessing, and beautifying His precious name. Stay safe and healthy.
In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 