The establishment of a Church in this city formed a new era in the development of Christianity.  Antioch was a great commercial mart with a large Jewish, as well as Gentile, population; it was virtually the capital of the Roman Empire in the East—­being the residence of the president, or governor, of Syria; its climate was delightful; and its citizens, enriched by trade, were noted for their gaiety and voluptuousness.  In this flourishing metropolis many proselytes from heathenism were to be found in the synagogues of the Greek-speaking Jews, and the gospel soon made rapid progress among these Hellenists.  “Some of them (which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen) were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, [64:1] preaching the Lord Jesus.  And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord.” [64:2] The followers of Jesus at this time received a new designation.  They had hitherto called themselves “brethren” or “disciples” or “believers,” but now they “were called Christians” by some of the inhabitants of the Syrian capital.  As the unconverted Jews did not admit that Jesus was the Christ they were obviously not the authors of this appellation, and, in contempt, they probably styled the party Nazarenes or Galileans; but it is easy to understand how the name was suggested to the Pagans as most descriptive and appropriate.  No one could be long in company with the new religionists without perceiving that Christ was “the end of their conversation.”  They delighted to tell of His mighty miracles, of His holy life, of the extraordinary circumstances which accompanied His death, of His resurrection and ascension.  Out of the fulness of their hearts they discoursed of His condescension and His meekness, of His wonderful wisdom, of His sublime theology, and of His unutterable love to a world lying in wickedness.  When they prayed, they prayed to Christ; when they sang, they sang praise to Christ; when they preached, they preached Christ.  Well then might the heathen multitude agree with one voice to call them Christians.  The inventor of the title may have meant it as a nickname, but if so, He who overruled the waywardness of Pilate so that he wrote on the cross a faithful inscription, [65:1] also caused this mocker of His servants to stumble on a most truthful and complimentary designation.

From his first appearance in Antioch Paul seems to have occupied a very influential position among his brethren.  In that refined and opulent city his learning, his dialectic skill, his prudence, and his pious ardour were all calculated to make his ministry most effective.  About a year after his arrival there, he was deputed, in company with a friend, to visit Palestine on an errand of love.  “In those days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.  And there stood up one of them, named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.  Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren which dwelt in Judea.  Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” [65:2]