In what city were believers first called Christians?
The believers were first called Christians in Antioch. Scripture states that it was at Antioch, among Gentile believers, that this name was first applied. The Jewish believers in Jerusalem were never called Christians in the Bible; the designation arose in that Gentile church context.
Les explains that after Barnabas found Saul, he brought him back to Antioch, and that is where Gentile Christianity begins to flower. Les notes that it was at Antioch, the Scripture says, that the believers were first called Christians. He emphasizes that the Bible never calls the Jewish believers at Jerusalem Christians; they were first called Christians among the Gentile believers up at Antioch.