When Christians were First Called Christians (Acts 11:1-30)

"The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch" (Ac 11:26b).

How the early Christians described themselves. They spoke of being

• disciples,
• believers,
• saints,
• brothers and sisters,
• Nazarenes (Ac 24:5), or
• followers of the "Way."

By being "called Christians" (Ac 11:26), Luke is indicating that the followers of Jesus were first perceived to be a group clearly distinct from Jews in Antioch. He wants his audience to be able to distinguish Christians (both Jews and Gentiles) from Jews who are not followers of Christ. Thus, this distinction is not ethnic but social on the basis of adherence or religious loyalties. 

God made the Gentile mission clear to the Jerusalem church with Cornelius. Still, it is not a finalized movement, and many still have serious doubts about its legality according to the Torah--the Gentiles are an unclean people. Though they became Christians, they're not ready to be rid of their Jewish cultural sensitivities and aversion toward Gentiles in general. So Peter has to return to Jerusalem, explain his actions, and justify his making a convert of Cornelius without 1st becoming a Jewish proselyte. Still, the fallout from this event is not fully sorted out before the apostolic council in Acts 15.

The utmost importance of Saul and Cornelius' conversion. As with Saul's conversion, Cornelius' conversion is narrated for the 2nd time because of its great importance for the church's God-given mission. Luke wants every Christian to be aware of these 2 world-shaking salvation-historical events for the future history of the church. This 2nd retelling adds certain details: "wild beasts" (Ac 10:12; 11:6) and that "six" companions travelled with him to Caesarea (Ac 10:23; 11:12).

Antioch--1 of the 1st churches formed by the exodus after the "great persecution" following the death of Stephen (Ac 11:19; 8:1-3). It is the 3rd largest city in the Roman world after Rome and Alexandria. It was of great strategic importance to early Christianity, being the first major cosmopolitan city outside Israel where Christianity established itself as a force to be reckoned with. It was a great commercial center near an important religious center connected with Artemis and Apollo. It was the Roman provincial capital for Syria with a half million people in the mid 1st century.

1. Justification in Jerusalem  (11:1-18). Peter Justifies Gentile Conversions in Jerusalem. Controversy and vindication.
1. Criticism of Peter (11:1-3). Peter is called to account.
2. Peter retells the Cornelius story (11:4-17). He recalls God's direction and control. It's a defense speech explaining what happened step by step.
3. The Jewish Christian reaction (11:18). Peter's speech silenced the criticism and led to the praising of God. The church acknowledges God's leading.
2. The Church at Antioch (11:19-30) [Expansion]. The Word Goes to Antioch in Syria. Taking root--and a name--in Antioch. Christians and Collections. [Expansion and Opposition (11:19-12:24)]. The Antioch Chronicles (11:19-15:35)]
1. The Planting of a New Church (11:19-21). The Greek mission is initiated by unnamed evangelists.
2. Barnabas and Saul arrive: Their encouraging ministry (11:22-26).
1. The Greek mission is endorsed by Barnabas (11:22-24).
2. The Greek mission is consolidated by Saul (11:25-26).
3. The famine relief: Generosity in ministry to Christians in Jerusalem (11:27-30). The Greek mission is authenticated by good works.

1st, the Samaritans, now the Gentiles (Ac 11:1; 8:14). Ac 11:1 links what came before, and what follows. Like the Samaritans accepting the word of God (Ac 8:14), the story of Cornelius accepting God's word about Jesus (Ac 10:44, 34-43) means that a whole new ethnic group, involving the multitude of pagan nations, has come into the picture. The Jerusalem church is caught just as unprepared as they were with the results of the mission of Philip in Samaria. The flow of God's history is moving away from Jerusalem toward Rome.

References:

1. Osborne, Grant. Acts. Verse by Verse. 2019. Cornelius: The Gentile Mission: Cornelius and Antioch (11:1-30).
1. Peter Justifies Gentile Conversions in Jerusalem (11:1-18).
2. Luke Introduces the Church at Antioch (11:19-30).
2. Witherington III, Ben. The Acts of the Apostles. A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. 1998.
3. Stott, John. The Message of Acts. 1990. Through the Bible through the year, Daily reflections from Genesis to Revelation. 2006. 
4. Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. The Pillar NT commentary. 2009. The Word Advances in Judea and Syria (9:32-12:25). Peter's Role in the Evangelisation of the Gentiles (10:1-48).
5. Marshall, I. Howard. Acts. Tyndale NT commentaries (TNTC). 1980. The Beginning of the Gentile Mission (9:32-12:25).
1. Peter's mighty works (9:32-43).
2. The conversion of Cornelius (10:1-11:18).
3. The church at Antioch (11:19-30).
4. The imprisonment and escape of Peter (12:1-25).
6. Wright, N.T. Acts for Everyone, Part 1. Chapters 1-12. 2008.