“So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.”
Excerpt, First Reading, Tuesday 11th June 2024 – ACTS 11:21b-26; 13.1-3.
So, in other translations of the Holy Bible, this Antioch was particularly called Antioch in Syria. It was a chief centre of early Christianity during Roman times.
The name Antioch means: stubborn, resistant, holding fast.
Sadly, in the year 526, between 28th and 29th May, a strong earthquake struck the city of Antioch and an estimated 250,000 people perished.
Nevertheless, the city is still in existence, but now in southern Turkey. However, it has been renamed to Antakya and the town is now predominantly Muslim.
As we may have already known, Adamawa State is a derivation from Adama. The name means, the people of Adama. So, also the label ‘christians’ from Christ.
This label of ‘christian’ was first used as a derogatory word. It was an insult. There was a movement of people who were following the way of Christ, and they were growing. Therefore, the idol worshippers chose to refer to them as, ‘the Christ people’ hence the reference was shortened to ‘christians’.
This is very much like the moniker prevalent on the political scene in Nigeria now.
Where we have the likes of ATIKUkates, BATists, OBIdients, Kwankwasiya, etc. All representing Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankaso respectively.
Nevertheless, derogatory or not, if they saints or disciples (as they called themselves then) hadn’t acted and behaved like Jesus Christ, they wouldn’t have been so christened.
Dear friend, it is better folks christen as ‘mgbeke’, ‘holy-holy’, pastor, than one should be called devil’s advocate, traitor, talkative, ‘telephone-without-wire, etc.
Like Saint Barnabas, we too, must shape our ways so that such descriptions as used for him – “A good man, who is full of the Holy Spirit” would some day be used to describe us or make reference to us.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_BARNABAS! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo