Known for theological position or supernatural presence & power?

Acts 11:26 tells us something that’s become commonplace to us but would have been shocking in the first century (NIV, emphasis added):

The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

This verse is somewhat odd. You see, the first Christians were not named after their leader (i.e., they weren’t called Jesus-ans or Jesus-followers). Jesus is the name of our Savior. His name means “Salvation.”

Or, to say it another way— “Our spiritual ancestors weren’t called Salvation-ers in the same way we’re sometimes labelled Evangelicals.”

Christ is His title. It’s the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah, which means “anointed one.” He is the one set aside by God for the purposes of redemption. And He does so as He walks in great power.

Here's what happened: people in that day saw the followers of Jesus carrying the same power that He carried. They taught with power, they gave graciously, they performed miracles. As such, onlookers labeled them for the same anointing their Master had! “Outsiders” named them not after His name but after His anointing.