Christian.--In the 11th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, the
26th verse, we read, "And the disciples were called _Christians_
first in Antioch." As the result of the persecutions which arose
about St. Stephen, some of the disciples who had to flee for their
lives came to Antioch. In time there grew up a church there, a mixed
society of Jews and Gentiles, and the citizens of Antioch naturally
asked, "What are they?" "What name do they bear?" "What is their
object?" While they were acquainted with the Jews and their
peculiarities, they saw that this was not a Jewish organization,
for it embraced Gentiles as well. When {52} they learned that the
one bond which held this society together was their belief in a
Messiah, a Christ, the people of Antioch, who were celebrated for
their fertility in nicknames, called the members of this society,
_Christians_. Without doubt the name was given in ridicule. It did
not spread widely at first; it is only twice used in the Bible and
each time as a word of reproach. But as often happens with names
thus conferred, this was a name to remain forever; a name that was
to be powerful and far-reaching; a name that was to stand for all
that is lovely, noble and beautiful in human life. Such is the
origin of the name we bear. We are Christians because we know no
other name but that of Christ and no other bond but that of union
with Christ. We are made Christians in our Baptism, for we are then
brought into union with Christ and made members of His Body. The
old word _Christen_, meaning to baptize, really means _to Christian_,
that is, to make Christian by incorporating us into Christ.