The term Christian
is used in the Bible on three occasions: Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. It was most likely coined by Gentiles outside of the church community as a means of describing the new religious group,1 since Jews tended to referred to Christians as the Nazarene sect
(Acts 24:5).2 Quite possibly it included an element of ridicule.3 We can assume that Greek speaking people heard believers speaking of Jesus Christ and so they used the name in their description, similar to how those who submitted to Herod were known as Herodians (see Mark 3:6).4 The form of the Greek expression suggests an origin in Latin speaking circles. Quite possibly it was an official designation coined by Roman authorities in Antioch when believers began to separate from Jewish synagogue groups.5
26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.