Day 324: How We Became “Christians” (Acts 11:26)

And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. — Acts 11:26

The term “Christian” is universally accepted today to refer to one who follows the teaching of Jesus. But it wasn’t always that way. The original followers of Jesus didn’t refer to themselves that way at first. And today, there can be a pretty big gap between what it means to be called a Christian and what it means to be a Christian.

The Book of Acts gives us the moment the name appeared. History helps us understand why.

A Name Given, Not Chosen

The Greek verb Luke uses—chrēmatizō—almost always refers to a name given by outsiders, not adopted by insiders. Early believers called one another many things: disciples, saints, brothers, believers, the Way. In fact, many of them would describe themselves first as Jews. When Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, the first words out of his mouth were, “I am a Jew” (See Acts 21:39, Acts 22:3). Paul never used the term “Christian” to describe himself or anyone else.

The word “believer” is used fifteen times in the New Testament; “saint” nearly sixty times; and “disciple” over two hundred and sixty times. The word “Christian?” Three.

That name came from the streets of Antioch.

Antioch: Where Nicknames Were Born

First-century Antioch was a cosmopolitan Roman city whose streets echoed with many voices — Greek, Syrian, Jewish, Roman. Its cultural life was not only serious, but satirical: even the emperor wrote a mocking essay in the city (Misopogon) in the 360s A.D. showing that tolerance for public ridicule and nickname-casting was part of the atmosphere (Sci-Hub+1). Roman writers joked that Antioch minted nicknames like other cities minted coins.

So when this new, strange movement exploded—Jews and Gentiles worshiping together, turning from idols, caring for the poor—the city had to call them something.

The suffix -ianus (Greek: -ianos) didn’t mean “religious.” It meant “belonging to” or “the party of.” So Herodians were supporters of Herod, Ceasarians were loyal to Caesar and so on. (Fun fact: the Ceasarians had reserved seats in the Coliseum. They sat in the C-Section).

So “Christian” meant belonging to the party of Christ. Christ’s people.

It was, at best, neutral. More often, it was dismissive or perjorative.

And it could even be treasonous.

How Romans Used the Name

Within 15-20 years of the term being coined in Antioch, the label was known widely enough that King Agrippa could ask Paul, “In such a short time, would you persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28). Outside the New Testament, early Roman references to “Christians” are not flattering.

• In AD 64, Tacitus called them “a class hated for their abominations” (Annals 15.44)
• Suetonius called Christianity a “mischievous superstition” and described the punishment of Christians by Nero (Life of Nero, 16).
• Pliny the Younger, writing to Emperor Trajan in AD 112, treated “Christian” as a criminal charge. Refuse to deny it, and you die (Epistles 10.96)

“Christian” wasn’t an honor. It was an accusation. It took the church decades to embrace the word.

When the Church Finally Owned the Name

By the time Peter wrote his first epistle (c. 62-64 AD) he encouraged persecuted Christians. He wrote,

“If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name” (1 Pet. 4:16)

This is the turning point. The name meant to shame became a badge of honor. Peter sanctifies ther term, and the church begins to embrace it. Not because it was flattering, but because it connected them to Christ. By the mid 2nd century, the name was everywhere. Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 110) used Christianismos (“Christianity”) as a confession of faith. Justin Martyr (A.D. 150) wrote his First Apology in the name of “Christians.” The Apology of Aristides (A.D. 125–140) used “Christian” repeatedly as the group’s own name.

Christianity Today

What does it mean to be “Christian” today? It’s easy to get confused. There are Christian radio stations playing “Contemporary Christian Music.” There are Christian books, Christian T-Shirts, Christian comedians, Christian movies. There are Christian nations, Christian political action committees. There is “Christians” as a voting block. Christian nationalism as a political movement. There is a Christian subculture. Christian television stations. Christian insurance companies.

Or are there?

The Name We Bear

Just because the world calls you a “Christian” does not mean you follow Christ. You can even call yourself a Christian simply because you live in America or you vote a certain way. But remember:

The name came from outsiders.
The life must comes from the Holy Spirit. .

Antioch didn’t give the church a label because believers claimed Christ. They gave it because believers resembled Christ.

So the questions for us are simple:

Does your life look so much like Jesus that even unbelievers would say, “That one belongs to Christ”? Are you suffering because you bear the name of Christ?

That’s what it meant to be Christian then. And that’s how we bear the name faithfully now.

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Further reading

compiled with the help of AI and standard NT bibliographies.

• F. F. Bruce — The Book of Acts
• Larry Hurtado — Destroyer of the Gods
• Wayne Meeks — The First Urban Christians
• Robert Louis Wilken — The Christians as the Romans Saw Them
• Everrett Ferguson — Backgrounds of Early Christianity
• Ignatius, Justin Martyr, and Aristides (early Christian writings)
• Tacitus, Suetonius, Pliny (Roman sources)
• Maud Gleason — “Festive Satire: Julian’s Misopogon”

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