The church had an astounding impact on the city of Jerusalem from the day it began. The coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, which enabled lowly Galileans to speak in languages they had never studied, could not be ignored. Nor could the message about the risen Savior be easily dismissed.
The apostles confronted those who had killed Jesus and showed the Jews that He had been raised from the dead and was now highly exalted in heaven. When those who were convicted of their sin asked what they must do to get right with God, the answer was given. They were told, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38).
Look at these words carefully. They were not told to be baptized because some men decided that was what should be done. It was to be done because Jesus said they should do it. It was a command based on the authority of Jesus. It was in His name, by His authority. Look at the next few chapters. The apostles repeatedly showed that all that was happening was done by the authority of Jesus, in His name.
The next chapter tells of the healing of the crippled man at the temple. Notice the phrase used by the apostles in this miracle. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). Immediately, this man entered the temple and was leaping and walking, praising God for what had just happened. The multitude came together again, and Peter said, “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know” (Acts 3:16).
The religious leaders immediately arrested the apostles because their authority over the people was threatened to those who taught the people that authority was found only in the name of Jesus, by His authority. These leaders asked the apostles this question, “By what power or by what name have you done this” (Acts 4:7)? What a penetrating question which should be asked in every religious discussion—by whose authority are you doing this?
Let me illustrate. Ask these questions. By what authority do you sprinkle water on a baby and call this baptism? By what authority do you wear any other name than the name Christian to denominate you and others who share your ideas from all others? By what authority do you tell a sinner to repeat the “sinner’s prayer”—a prayer nowhere found in the Bible—in order to be saved? By what authority have you changed the worship so much that a first century Christian could not identify his worship with yours?
I hope you see the importance of this. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord” (Col. 3:17).