The Name of Jesus
Acts 4:18-31
What’s in a name?
What’s in a name? Typically, we use names to distinguish one person from another and names don’t have much significance.
Any meaning attached to a name is either unknown to the person or the person is not concerned with the meaning of their name.
Here in the West, we name our children with certain names because the name sounds nice or because the name has some sentimental value to us for one reason or another.
However, in Eastern cultures, especially in biblical times, Jewish people, attached much greater significance to names.
To the Jews, a person's name signifies worth, character, reputation, authority, and ownership.
Philippians 2:9 God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
Philippians 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NKJV
Please open your Bibles to Acts 4 as we continue that study.
Last week the religious leaders were upset for two reasons…
1. Peter and John were preaching Jesus, as the Christ.
2. Peter and John were teaching about Jesus’ resurrection.
The religious leaders grabbed the men and kept them in custody until morning, interrogating them about Jesus being preached.
Then we learned that Jesus was the rejected Cornerstone.
Peter said, “You have rejected the foundational leader of the nation and your heritage, His name is Jesus, and by His name this miracle was performed.”
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, immediately began boldly and confidently speaking about the Cross and the Gospel.
The religious leaders forbade the Disciples from sharing Christ.
If we have been spending time with Jesus, our lives will naturally proclaim the Gospel in many different ways.
Today, we will learn how these Disciples were forbidden to discuss the name of Jesus, so they prayed for boldness.
I. Don’t teach in the Name.
Read Acts 4:18
Why were these leaders forbidding teaching in Jesus’ name?
In the original language, this command from the religious leaders was forceful. They basically said, under no circumstances are you to teach in the name of Jesus again!
Remember Peter’s statement from a couple of weeks ago.
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." NKJV
The name of Jesus is the most powerful name that has ever existed or will exist; however, any power that comes from the name of Jesus originates and comes from the person of Jesus.
There is nothing magical in the name of Jesus without the actual person of Jesus, God the Son.
Some people think they can invoke the name of Jesus and demand their own will to be done because of a magic formula of simply using His name.
There are false religions that use the name of Jesus without believing in the “real” Jesus, so their Jesus is not powerful.
The Hebrew name for Jesus is Jeshua or Joshua, and there are many people in history with that name who do not possess the power of Jesus, God the Son.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. NKJV
Notice Jesus said, “except through Me” so the person of Jesus is where the power lies.
gotquestions.org said, “Jesus is the Savior of sinners.
The saving, healing, protecting, justifying, and redeeming power of God resides in the Person of Christ, and Jesus is His name.
Jesus laid down His life to save sinners, and He exercised His authority to raise it up again, so that any who call on His name in faith can receive forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation”
Jesus’ power was fully displayed when He finished the work of redemption on the Cross at Calvary and again as He raised Himself back to life again.
John 2:19, Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." NKJV
Because of the blood of Christ, we are offered salvation, we become new creations, and we become righteous in Him, as we receive a restored relationship with the Father.
If you have received the gift of Jesus Christ to be saved because of His work on the Cross, you then become an adopted child of God with all the benefits that come with being a family member.
Galatians 4:4 when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Galatians 4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
Galatians 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. NKJV
At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us and we become children of God Most High.
We are co-heirs with Christ, so we have the authority to identify with the powerful name of Jesus.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. NKJV
The only power strong enough to take a person from being dead in their sins and trespasses and turn them into a Child of God is God the Son, Jesus Christ.
II. Pray for boldness.
Read Acts 4:19-22
When Peter and John answered the Sanhedrin, they told these religious leaders that they were going against the LORD with their order for the men to stop teaching in the name of Jesus.
They asked, “Is it right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God”?
It is ironic that Peter later says in his epistle,
1 Peter 2:13 submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
1 Peter 2:14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
1 Peter 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men —
1 Peter 2:16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. NKJV
Part of a Christian response to Jesus is to have civic responsibility and to honor the “governing authorities.”
The Bible encourages obedience to government authority, but the Bible also emphasizes that Christians should prioritize obeying God's commands over human laws.
Paul said in Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Romans 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. NKJV
Paul said God’s sovereignty is why we accept the government's authority over us even when we may not care for their policies.
Paul says our governing authorities were placed by the LORD.
But what happens when the authorities, who are over us, overstep what the Bible tells us to do?
Think about the midwives in Exodus who defied the Pharoah and kept baby Moses alive when the Pharoah commanded that all male Jewish babies be killed.
Jesus defied the man-made Sabbath ordinances of His time.
We are to obey the law of the land, except when those laws directly contradict the Word of God.
Notice Peter and John were compelled to speak about the things they had seen and heard.
These men were compelled by the Holy Spirit to share and obey. Peter and John knew what the LORD told them to do, and they were also empowered by the Spirit to complete the task.
Notice the religious leaders, “Finding no way of punishing them, because of the people.”
The religious leaders were not moved by the LORD, but they feared the opinion of the crowd because the people knew the healing of the lame man was from God.
They cared more about man’s opinion than God’s.
Paul said in Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. NKJV
Notice, “They all glorified God for what had been done.”
All of the people who had witnessed this healing knew this man was lame from birth and he was now 40 years old.
There was no way possible that this was a fake miracle or a manipulation of the facts, so the people glorified the LORD, while the religious leaders wanted to silence the Apostles.
What the enemy tried to use for evil, the LORD turned it around and used it for His glory.
2,000 more people came to Christ, as Peter demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit in his life while sharing Christ.
Peter got to preach Jesus to non-believing Jewish leaders.
Jesus’ enemies were confused as Peter and John gained a new boldness and ultimately, the LORD was glorified.
III. Thanking God in prayer.
Read Acts 4:23-26
The first thing Peter and John did after being released by the religious leaders was to go to their fellow Christians and tell them all that was said and done to them.
The Good News of how the LORD protected Peter and John and how the Holy Spirit had used Peter to proclaim the Gospel to these religious leaders, was something worth talking about.
Hearing how the LORD comes through for other believers can bolster our faith.
Once the believers were all together again, these men and women began a prayer and worship session, praising the LORD for all He had done.
Notice they raised their voice with one accord.
This means they prayed in unity, without strife or division as they had the same mind as each other when they prayed.
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! NKJV
Notice how these believers begin their prayer by proclaiming the truth about God’s power. They realized Who it was that brought about this miracle as well as the freedom for Peter and John.
Acts 4:24 "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.” NKJV
After proclaiming the truth about God’s power, we should use prayer times to repeat the LORD’s promises back to Him.
Then after speaking of the power of the LORD, they follow that up by quoting from Psalm 2 describing more of God’s power.
I want you to notice that Luke writes here in Acts that David spoke by the power of God when he wrote Psalm 2.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. NKJV
The Old and the New Testaments have the same author, the LORD, even though forty different human authors were used.
1000 years before Jesus walked on Earth, David said in Psalm 2:1, Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?
Psalm 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed. NKJV
In Psalm 2, King David was baffled at how these nations thought they had a chance of succeeding against Almighty God.
In Psalm 2, David said, “Why do the nations rage”. David had witnessed the mighty hand of the LORD throughout his lifetime and knew that no one could stop the LORD almighty.
Notice David said, “The rulers take counsel together”.
Ever since the fall of man, especially with Nimrod and the Tower of Babel, people have tried to come together against God.
Wiersbe, “From the Tower of Babel to the crucifixion of Christ, to the battle of Armageddon, the Bible records humanity’s foolish and futile rebellions against the will of the Creator.”
No matter how powerful a world leader or government appears, they cannot thwart the power or plans of the LORD.
There is a subtle difference between Psalm 2:2 and Acts 4:26.
Psalm 2 says against the LORD and against His Anointed.
Acts 4:26 says against the LORD and against His Christ.'
When we say Jesus Christ, we know Jesus’ last name is not Christ. Jesus means Yahweh saves. Christ means the Anointed One, the Promised One, the Messiah, and God the Son. (G5548)
In Psalm 2, David foretold how the world leaders would reject God the Son as they believed they could thwart the plan of God.
But just like here in Acts 4, we see the LORD is so much more powerful than any person or government.
IV. They spoke by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Read Acts 4:27-31
Again, we see the sovereign hand of Almighty God was involved with the death of Christ on the Cross, even though sinful men played a part in His death.
Peter knew and proclaimed that Jesus’ death was the plan of God from the beginning of time.
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death. NKJV
This same Peter said in 1 Peter 1:20 He (Christ) indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you
1 Peter 1:21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. NKJV
Peter was letting the people there that day know that even though the Cross of Christ was the LORD’s plan for our salvation, the people’s sin was still responsible for His death.
Those who rejected Jesus and called for His execution were responsible for the actions of their lawless hands.
Because the Disciples knew their circumstances were happening because the LORD predetermined and foreknew the plan, the evil plans of man could never thwart the LORD’s purposes.
The LORD’s enemies can only do what the hand of God allows.
Think about the Book of Job, how Satan had to go before the LORD and ask for permission to go against Job.
Knowing these truths about God’s sovereignty and His foreknowledge of the circumstances in our lives should bring the child of God peace and security.
Notice, “Grant to Your servants that with all boldness”. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to speak boldly and have good results for Him.
By stretching out Your hand to heal, to glorify Christ.
Not miracles for miracles' sake, but to point people to Christ!
Desiring miracles for the show of it is often rooted in pride.
Jesus warned of this mentality in Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." NKJV
Notice, Acts 4:31 when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. NKJV
Arthur Pierson said, “The presence of the Holy Spirit was so wonderfully manifested that even dead walls felt the power of the Spirit of life — matter responded to spirit.” (Pierson)
And then after the prayer, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
As a Christian we are not filled with the Spirit only once.
Christians are baptized once by the Holy Spirit, but we are commanded in Ephesians 5:18 to be continually filled with the Spirit, which means controlled by.
In other words, we are to be “immersed” in Him constantly. Boldness is necessary today, as we live for Christ and boldly declare Him through our thoughts, speech, and actions.
Their boldness was a gift from God, received through prayer and by the power of the Holy Spirit. This was not a natural boldness and something they could muster up.
V. Practical Application.
What’s in a name?
Philippians 2:9 God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
Philippians 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NKJV
The name of Jesus is the most powerful name that has ever existed or will exist, however, any power that comes from the name of Jesus originates and comes from the person of Jesus.
Some people think they can invoke the name of Jesus and demand their own will to be done because of a magic formula of simply using His name.
There are false religions that use the name of Jesus without believing in the “real” Jesus, so their Jesus is not powerful.
Jesus is the One who saves His people from their sins and has all of the power of the mighty Creator Himself. As a follower of Christ, we do not possess the authority for our will to be done.
If we are saved by Jesus, He gives us the authority to serve Him, share the Good News of the Gospel, and pray in His name, as we desire the LORD’s will to be accomplished.
Since we are adopted co-heirs with Christ, we speak the name of Jesus with His authority, serving Him. By the power of His Holy Spirit, Jesus will use us in so many ways to accomplish His will.
(gotquestions.org) “The name Jesus reminds us of the power, presence, and purpose of the risen Christ. It assures us that God’s gracious intention is to save us.
Our Lord Jesus brought God to humanity and now brings humans to God through the salvation He purchased.
“In the Bible, when people spoke or acted in the name of Jesus, they did so as the Lord’s representatives with His authority.”
• We can call on the name of Jesus to receive His grace and His gift of salvation.
• We can call on the name of Jesus to receive the power to share Christ with other people.
• We can call on the name of Jesus to remind us of His eternal presence in our lives.
• We call on the name of Jesus when the enemy attacks.
• We call on the name of Jesus when we need His peace, hope, love, and wisdom.
• We can call on the name of Jesus to gain the ability to follow Him.
