Acts 11:26

When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

BSB

and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

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.

ASV

and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

BBE

And when he had come across him, he took him to Antioch. And they were with the church there for a year, teaching the people; and the disciples were first given the name of Christians in Antioch.

Original Greek

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καὶ kai and G2532 εὑρὼν heurōn having found G2147 αὐτὸν auton him G846 ἤγαγεν ēgagen he brought G71 αὐτὸν auton him G846 εἰς eis to G1519 Ἀντιόχειαν Antiocheian Antioch G490 ἐγένετο egeneto It came to pass [that] G1096 δὲ de now G1161 αὐτοῖς autois they G846 καὶ kai also G2532 ἐνιαυτὸν eniauton a year G1763 ὅλον holon whole G3650 συναχθῆναι sunachthēnai gathering together G4863 ἐν en in G1722 τῇ tēa the G3588 ἐκκλησίᾳ ekklēsia church G1577 καὶ kai and G2532 διδάξαι didaxai teaching G1321 ὄχλον ochlon a crowd G3793 ἱκανόν hikanon large G2425 χρηματίσαι chrēmatisai Were calling G5537 τε te then G5037 πρώτως prōtōs first G6078 ἐν en in G1722 Ἀντιοχείᾳ Antiocheia Antioch G490 τοὺς tous the G3588 μαθητὰς mathētas disciples G3101 Χριστιανούς.¶ Christianous Christians G5546

The early church

"And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch." Verily this is the reason why it was there they were appointed to be called Christians, because Paul there spent so long time! "And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church, and taught much people. And the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch." No small matter of praise to that city! This is enough to make it a match for all, that for so long a time it had the benefit of that mouth, it first, and before all others: wherefore also it was there in the first place that men were accounted worthy of that name.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts
Do you observe the benefit resulting to that city from Paul, to what a height that name, like a standard, exalted it? Where three thousand, where five thousand, believed, where so great a multitude, nothing of the sort took place, but they were called "they of the way:" here they were called Christians.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts
Paul also preaches, and is no longer compelled to flee. And it is well ordered, that not they speak of the famine, but the prophets. The men of Antioch also did not take it amiss that they sent not the Apostles, but were content with their teachers: so fervent were they all for the word.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 25–30

Hitherto the followers of Christ were called disciples, that is, learners, scholars; but from that time they were called Christians. The proper meaning of this name is, a follower of Christ; it denotes one who, from serious thought, embraces the religion of Christ, believes his promises, and makes it his chief care to shape his life by Christ's precepts and example. Hence it is plain that multitudes take the name of Christian to whom it does not rightly belong. But the name without the reality will only add to our guilt. While the bare profession will bestow neither profit nor delight, the possession of it will give both the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Grant, Lord, that Christians may forget other names and distinctions, and love one another as the followers of Christ ought to do. True Christians will feel for their brethren under afflictions. Thus will fruit be brought forth to the praise and glory of God. If all mankind were true Christians, how cheerfully would they help one another! The whole earth would be like one large family, every member of which would strive to be dutiful and kind.

Read Matthew Henry on Acts 11 →

Cross-references

19

People & places

Antioch (Syria)

Topics

Zeal, ReligiousPaulDiscipleTarsusChristian

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.