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. Acts 11:26 WEB

As Christians, we are part of a family of faith that is grafted onto the vine of Jewish belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus Christ is the Messiah of the Jewish faith. However, many Jewish people reject Jesus as their redeemer. Those that believe remain attached to the vine that is Jesus Christ. Those who disbelieve are removed from the vine. We Gentiles who believe in Christ are grafted to the vine as wild olive branches in their place. 

When Peter went to Antioch, some of the Jews there criticized him for associating with the uncircumcised Gentiles in the community. But, following the command of the Lord to preach the gospel to all of creation, the apostles gave the good news of Christ to Jews and Gentiles alike. Their message was true to the teaching of Jesus as they called sinners to repentance.

Faith in Christ

From Antioch, Barnabus left for Tarsus to find Paul. Finding him there, he and Paul returned to Antioch to continue teaching there. Many people in that city believed the message of forgiveness of sin through faith in Christ. Convicted of their sin, they repented and began to live lives of service to the kingdom of heaven. 

Acts 11:26 shares the story of  Barnabus finding Paul and returning to Antioch to teach for a year. In addition, it reveals that believers in Jesus were first called Christians there. The name was likely given by the Gentiles of Greece. Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah.” The suffix “ian” in Greek means “of the party of.” Together these mean “of the party of the Savior” or “of the party of the Deliverer.”   

Yesterday’s Devotional: Think About These Things