Researching the term “Name” in the book of Acts A Study For Jehovah’s Witnesses

The following is a list I (Keith) put together in preparation for a study I had with a Jehovah’s Witness elder. We were studying through the Watchtower publication, “WHAT DOES THE BIBLE Really TEACH?” One of the points that this book makes early in chapter one is the idea that God has a personal name and that if we don’t use that name, then we cannot really know him. I put this list together to help my friend look at things from a different perspective. If you would like to read a report of our conversation, you can read our 5/30/13 blog post.

The word “name” appears in the book of Acts 39 times in the New World Translation, three times in reference to Jehovah, 32 times to Jesus and four times to other people. The references in red font refer to Jehovah, blue to Jesus and green to other people.

Some of the more interesting occurrences of the word “name” are when the name of Jesus is said to be the only name by which people can be saved (4:12), when Jesus tells Ananias in vision that Paul will make the name of Jesus known throughout the world (9:15), and that all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who puts faith in Jesus is forgiven through His name (10:43).

Acts 2:21– And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”’

Acts 2:38– Peter [said] to them: “Repent, and let each one of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of YOUR sins, and YOU will receive the free gift of the holy spirit.

Acts 3:6– However, Peter said: “Silver and gold I do not possess, but what I do have is what I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene′, walk!”

Acts  3:16–  Consequently his name, by [our] faith in his name, has made this man strong whom YOU behold and know, and the faith that is through him has given the man this complete soundness in the sight of all of YOU.

Acts  4:7– “By what power or in whose name did YOU do this?”

Acts  4:10– let it be known to all of YOU and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene′, whom YOU impaled but whom God raised up from the dead, by this one does this man stand here sound in front of YOU.

Acts  4:12– Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”

Acts  4:17– Nevertheless, in order that it may not be spread abroad further among the people, let us tell them with threats not to speak anymore upon the basis of this name to any man at all.”

Acts  4:18– With that they called them and charged them, nowhere to make any utterance or to teach upon the basis of the name of Jesus.

Acts  4:30– while you stretch out your hand for healing and while signs and portents occur through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Acts  5:1– However, a certain man, Ananias by name, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession

Acts  5:28– and said: “We positively ordered YOU not to keep teaching upon the basis of this name, and yet, look! YOU have filled Jerusalem with YOUR teaching, and YOU are determined to bring the blood of this man upon us.”

Acts  5:40– At this they gave heed to him, and they summoned the apostles, flogged them, and ordered them to stop speaking upon the basis of Jesus name, and let them go.

Acts  5:41-These, therefore, went their way from before the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name.

Acts  8:12– But when they believed Philip, who was declaring the good news of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they proceeded to be baptized, both men and women

Acts  8:16– For it had not yet fallen upon any one of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus

Acts  9:14–  And here he has authority from the chief priests to put in bonds all those calling upon your name.”

Acts  9:15– But the Lord said to him: “Be on your way, because this man is a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel.

Acts  9:16– For I shall show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name.”

Acts  9:21– But all those hearing him gave way to astonishment and would say: “Is this not the man that ravaged those in Jerusalem who call upon this name, and that had come here for this very purpose, that he might lead them bound to the chief priests?

Acts  9:27– So Barnabas came to his aid and led him to the apostles, and he told them in detail how on the road he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

Acts  9:28– And he continued with them, walking in and out at Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord;

Acts  10:43– To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone putting faith in him gets forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Acts  10:48– With that he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they requested him to remain for some days.

Acts  13:6– When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met up with a certain man, a sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

Acts  13:8– But El′ymas the sorcerer (that, in fact, is the way his name is translated) began opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Acts 15:14– Symeon has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name

Acts 15:17– in order that those who remain of the men may earnestly seek Jehovah, together with people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah, who is doing these things,

Acts 15:26– men that have delivered up their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Acts 16:1– So he arrived at Derbe and also at Lystra. And, look! a certain disciple was there by the name of Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman but of a Greek father

Acts  16:18– his she kept doing for many days. Finally Paul got tired of it and turned and said to the spirit: “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour

Acts  19:5– On hearing this, they got baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts  19:13– But certain ones of the roving Jews who practiced the casting out of demons also undertook to name the name of the Lord Jesus+ over those having the wicked spirits, saying: “I solemnly charge YOU by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

Acts  19:17– This became known to all, both the Jews and the Greeks that dwelt in Ephesus; and a fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus went on being magnified.

Acts  21:13– Then Paul answered: “What are YOU doing by weeping and making me weak at heart? Rest assured, I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Acts  22:16– And now why are you delaying? Rise, get baptized and wash your sins away by your calling upon his name.

Acts  26:9– I, for one, really thought within myself I ought to commit many acts of opposition against the name of Jesus the Nazarene.

If using God’s name is of utmost importance like our study book states on page 195, then why in the book of Acts did the first century disciples use and make known the name of Jesus almost 11 times more than the name of Jehovah?

What is the name above all other names? (Phil 2:10)

Whose Witnesses are we to be? (Acts 1:8)

In whose name is salvation found? (Acts 4:12)

Whose name was Paul to bear to the nations? Who told him to do this? (Acts 9:15)

What is God’s name? (Exodus 34:14)

Is God more concerned about His reputation or a specific pronunciation? (Isaiah 63:11-14) (Jeremiah 32:20)