Acts-Ac.6 “To suffer shame in his name”

The upshot of events we covered in the previous chapter did not augur well for the apostles. In doing good to a fellow being a beggar lame of foot they were hauled before the council and in the end as we read,”And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go./ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”(5:40-41)

Peter and John suffered shame for the name of their master. Jesus had forewarned them, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”(John 15:20). Then he went on to explain why. “But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.”(John 15:21-ESV). Here we see the principle of Association working which is how word wide web spreads the preeminence of Jesus Christ. How was he entitled to it? “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:/ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;/ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(Ph.2:9-11)

Holiness of God is a name as Virgin Mary confessed and when God exalted the name of Jesus above every other name He was endorsing his life as derived from him. He is ‘the visible image of the invisible God’ Col.1:15) In giving him a name above every name he conformed he was “the firstborn of every creature.” St Paul goes on to add in v.19, “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” In short this fulness makes the name of every believer transcend the vagaries of chance and infirmities associated with flesh. As believers servants of God it suffices to say that ‘if the world so did to my master what has come over me a trifle!” St Paul could say as his ministry came near to its end, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.”(2 Ti.4:8)

Name as a sign

In the previous post we considered the signs are empowered by the testimony in heaven which explains the divine will of the Father. In setting the bow in heaven his covenant with Noah extended the natural phenomenon to acquire spiritual significance.

Name as a sign also reveals the Son in fulfilling the will of his Father. The prayer of Jesus explains it. “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”(John 17:6) Touching the everlasting covenant existing between God and Man it explains the DNA of every believer adopted in his Son. Those whose faith and works are in keeping with him is a proof. It is for this reason Peter and John rejoiced that they were found worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Chapter 6 explains how the church as it increased would require a body of men to administer daily matters. Seven men among them Stephen and Philip would be chosen for the business on hand.”Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business./ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word./And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip,”(6:3)