Jesus of Nazareth was the expected Messiah of the Old Testament, a term rendered in Greek as “Christ” (= anointed). Followers of Jesus Christ were tagged as “Christians” (similar to how those who esteemed Herod were called Herodians, Mark 3:6). The term “Christians” initially contained a derisive component (Acts 11:26), but soon was embraced by Jesus’ followers as a badge of honour. Besides Acts 11:26, the term appears in the Bible only in Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. The present passage certainly gives the word a derisive flavour.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.