“And when they had found him (Saul), he (Barnabus) brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that the whole assembly joined themselves with the church, and taught much people, and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Commentary: So who first called the disciples at Antioch Syria Christians? It was the non-Christians! They were perplexed because they could not identify this group by the traditional means! It was a multitude of people of all ethnic groups both men and women! If it had been just Jews they would have said this is a Jewish religious service! If would have been just Greeks they could have said well they are hearing a lecture on Sacrates! Had it just been Romans they could have said Caesar must have ordered this meeting! If it would have been just North Africans it must have been some kind of tribal meeting! It was a meeting of the rich and the poor so economic structure had nothing to do with it! They could not explain this away so they came up with a new name for this meeting! They are all followers of Christ and are Christians! Satan hates unity! This irritated some who lived for tribalism! During our three years in India ministering among the Hindus and Muslims the sweetest music to my ears was when we would pray for impossible situations for them and God answered prayer they would say to me God has sent you here! No greater confirmation of your calling in Christ when you hear these words! Sell all you have and go to the mission field in the name of Christ and the heathen will confirm your calling with their own words and heaven will come down to earth for you for this experience will be more precious than silver and more costly than gold! James & Hamsa Sasse. IndiaJesusLovesYou.com