Names

Acts 3:4
And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”

Etymology of names is the study of the origin and literal meaning of names. It’s actually quite interesting. I think that anyone who reads and studies the Bible should spend some time learning the meanings of names. Take, for instance, these two fine folks, Peter and John.

Peter, which is translated from the Hebrew name Cephas, means “rock”. We know from reading the Bible that Peter’s name testified to his personality. He was the disciple who stood his ground right by Jesus’ side. He was the disciple who testified that Jesus was the Messiah (Matthew 16:16). And, completely out of character, he was the man who denied Christ in His darkest hour.

John, which is translated from the Hebrew name Yohanan, means “God is gracious”. Again, from reading the Bible we see that John’s name testifies to his personality. He is often referred to as “the disciple Jesus loved”. The Gospel of John is written with love and grace. It points out Jesus’ healings and miracles from a very human point of view.

So, now that we have that out of the way we can move on with this scripture. Peter, “the rock”, a representation of the Law which was written in stone, unbending, and John, “God is gracious”, or grace for short, are going out to teach the message of Jesus Christ and His redemption. The Law and Grace are working together to bring the message of salvation to the masses. While they’re traveling Solomon’s Porch they encountered a lame man who was begging for money.

Prior to verse 3, these two men were referred to as Peter and John, in that specific order. Verse 1, “Now Peter (the law) and John (grace) went up together...” and verse 3, “who, seeing Peter (the law) and John (grace)...” But something happens in verse 4 to cause their names to be switched around. That switch is what we need to focus on. In my opinion, it is the most important part of this entire chapter. You’ve read it at the top of the page as the Bible has it, but this is what I read this morning, “And fixing his eyes on him, with Grace, the Law said, ‘Look at us’”.

The tone has changed. The scripture now points us directly to Jesus, who taught the law like no other teacher while He was alive, but He did so with grace. When they brought the prostitute to Jesus, He didn’t contradict the law in any way. Instead He used it, with grace, to point out the fact that no one is guiltless. Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17) and He was able to do that because He wrote the law and He is the law.

We have our teaching backwards in today’s world. We try to teach grace through the law. We tell people that untill they get their act together they’ll never be able to fully receive God’s blessings and favor. The truth, however, is that it is only because of God’s blessings and favor that they’ll ever be able to get their act together. We cannot ignore the laws of God (Matthew 5:18) but we have to instruct with them as the Author did, through grace.