The verb met with may also mean “be guests of” (see RSV note and New English Bible, “lived in fellowship with”).

“The church” is qualified here as meaning the people of the church. It is agreed by the commentators that Christians was a title given to the believers by the non-Christian community, perhaps because the believers said “Christ is Lord,” in contrast with the confession of the Roman world “Caesar is Lord.” Thus the word Christian basically means “one who is a follower of Christ.” The word used here is used only here, 26.28, and 1 Peter 4.16. In many languages it is difficult to form an adjective on the root Christ, and therefore one cannot so conveniently employ a term such as Christian. This means that the closest equivalent may be a phrase such as “followers of Christ” or “adherents to Christ.” One should, however, avoid expressions which will only imply some intellectual interest in the Christian faith, for example, “learners from Christ” or “learners of the Christ way.” Some greater emphasis upon commitment is required.

The importance of the stay in Antioch is underlined by the observation that the two men met there for a whole year. According to Acts most of Paul’s visits were very short; Ephesus and Corinth were exceptions.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .