Dutchman, Peter Minuit, first purchased Manhattan from the Native Americans, calling his settlement New Amsterdam. In 1664, however, the British Navy showed up and the Dutch surrendered without firing a shot. New Amsterdam became New York, and 7000 Dutchman became the subjects of the British Monarch.

The Dutch and British lived together on Manhattan, but they weren’t united. The British despised and mocked the Dutch, and the Dutch felt no warmth for the British. Several of the derogatory comments exchanged more than 300 years ago remain in our vocabulary today, including “Dutch uncle,” “Dutch treat” and being “in Dutch.” When the British noticed how much the Dutch folks liked cheese, they began to mock the Dutch by calling them “John Cheese.”

Insulted, the Dutch turned the slur back on their English tormentors. The Dutch, however, pronounced the words with their distinctive accent, and it came out “Jan Kees” or “Yankees.” The term stuck.

Some Bible scholars believe the term “Christian” had a similar beginning. Acts 11:26 (NIV) reads, “…So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” The term “Christian” is used only twice more in Scripture. In Acts 26:28, King Agrippa said to the Apostle Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” And in 1 Peter 4:16, Peter writes “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” In both of those texts, the term “Christian” sounds like a pejorative or an insult. So many scholars believe that when the disciples were first called “Christians,” it was by their enemies!

Other scholars point out that in Isaiah 62:2, written more than 700 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.”

These scholars argue that as the Gospel was preached freely in the Gentile (Anyone who isn’t a “Jew” is a “Gentile.”) city of Antioch, the “nations” saw God’s vindication and then the name “Christian” was bestowed by God Himself as a way to identify His people.

While we may not be certain about the origin of the name “Christian,” we do know that believers have followed Peter’s instructions; they are proud to be known as “Christians,” even if the term was first intended as an insult. In fact, if anyone suggests that someone wearing a different moniker like “Baptist,” “Methodist,” “Presbyterian,” “Lutheran” or “Catholic” isn’t a Christian, that’s when they would be insulted! God’s people are proud to wear the title of His Son, Jesus, the Christ; we’re happy to be known as “Christians.”

The “ian” ending on the word “Christ” is called a “diminutive ending.” It suggests “small, tiny, little, petite.” In a miniscule way, as best they can, the followers of Jesus imitate their leader. Christians are proud to be a “little Christs.”

The term “Christian” also suggests possession or ownership. Thus, a Christian is one who belongs to Christ. That’s why believers claim to have “given (their) lives to Christ” and acknowledge that they “serve” the Savior. Believers are servants, happy to do their Master’s bidding.

Still, there’s an older term to describe those who are believers in Christ. It’s used there in Acts 11:26 before the term “Christian” comes into vogue: “Disciples.” “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”

Years before the Gospel was preached in Antioch and the disciples were called Christians, the men and women who listened to Jesus preach and then put his words into action were known as Jesus’ disciples.

Some of those men and women even left their homes and families behind so that they could traipse through Palestine with Jesus for months at a time; they didn’t want to miss a word of his truth!

So these folks who followed Jesus from place to place and did their best to put his teachings into practice were first labeled “disciples.”

A disciple is “a follower, adherent, devotee or pupil.” Because these people followed Jesus, they were known as disciples.

The label was given by those who observed their behavior, not their words. Because they followed Jesus, they were his “disciples.”

Christians were known by how they acted, not just what they said. There’s something to be said for that!