Act 11:19, 26 | PNT | STEP | Now they which were scattered abroad . See . Phenice . Phoenicia. A long, fertile plain between the Lebanon mountains and the sea containing the famous cities of Tyre and Sidon. These preachers, perhaps, founded churches here, as we find them existing later ( ). Cyprus . The famous island in the Mediterranean. Antioch . The capital of the whole province of Syria, including Palestine, situated on the Orontes a short distance from the sea, at this time next after Rome and Alexandria of the cities of the world in greatness, commerce and wealth. It was cultured, luxurious and corrupt, a Greek civilization corrupted by the wealth and luxury of Asia; a sort of oriental Rome. Preaching . . . unto the Jews only . They departed before the Gentiles at Caesarea were called to Christ.

Acts 11:19

Now they which were scattered abroad. See Ac 8:5.

Phenice. Phoenicia. A long, fertile plain between the Lebanon mountains and the sea containing the famous cities of Tyre and Sidon. These preachers, perhaps, founded churches here, as we find them existing later (Ac 21:4 27:3).

Cyprus. The famous island in the Mediterranean.

Antioch. The capital of the whole province of Syria, including Palestine, situated on the Orontes a short distance from the sea, at this time next after Rome and Alexandria of the cities of the world in greatness, commerce and wealth. It was cultured, luxurious and corrupt, a Greek civilization corrupted by the wealth and luxury of Asia; a sort of oriental Rome.

Preaching . . . unto the Jews only. They departed before the Gentiles at Caesarea were called to Christ.

Acts 11:26

A whole year. A.D. 44; they continued the work with great success.

The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. The Jews called them "Nazarenes" (Ac 24:5) or "Galileans" (Ac 2:7). They called themselves "disciples" (Ac 6:1, etc.), "brethren" (Ac 6:3, etc.) "saints" (Ac 9:13,32,41 26:10). The new term was probably bestowed by the Gentiles in the great city, in default of any other name that seemed appropriate. Here was the first great Gentile church. Outsiders could see that they were not Jews nor pagans, hence they called them after their Lord, just as the first disciples of Plato were called Platonists, and those of Epicurus, Epicureans. The designation "Christians" occurs only twice elsewhere in the New Testament (Ac 26:28 1Pe 4:16), and in both places its use is ascribed to those out of the church; yet it was accepted as honoring the Lord.