Power of Jesus’ Name

Overview

The “power of Jesus’ name” is a New Testament theme that speaks of the risen and exalted Jesus acting savingly, healingly, and authoritatively through those who invoke his name in faith, obedience, and witness. The phrase “name of Jesus” functions christologically: it names the person and identity of the crucified and risen Lord, the locus of divine presence and authority now mediated in the church by the Holy Spirit. Luke’s Acts is the central narrative source for the theme, but Paul and the Johannine letters extend it into prayer, worship, baptism, ethics, and confession.

Biblical shape

• Israel’s Scriptures establish “name” as the sign of divine presence, covenant identity, and authority. Calling or bearing the divine name places one within God’s saving relation (Exodus; Psalms; Proverbs).
• The Gospels portray Jesus exercising divine authority in teaching, forgiveness, healing, and exorcism, thereby manifesting the power associated with God’s name (Mark; Luke).
• Jesus commissions disciples to act under his authority; Johannine promises connect prayer “in Jesus’ name” with abiding in the Son and glorifying the Father (John).
• After resurrection and exaltation, Acts presents apostolic healings, exorcisms, baptism, and forgiveness as occurring “in” or “through” Jesus’ name, so that signs authenticate testimony to the risen Lord.
• Paul and Luke expand the motif: confession of Jesus as Lord, baptism in his name, and doing everything “in the name of the Lord Jesus” order the church’s worship, ethics, and hope (Romans; Colossians; Philippians).
• Acts also marks limits: attempts to treat the name as a detachable magical formula fail, and faith, allegiance, and Spirit-wrought agency are required for genuine effect.
• The New Testament thus makes the name both a sign of christological identity and a medium of the Spirit’s mission, resisting reduction to charm or technique.

Key passages

• Acts 2:38 — Peter links repentance, baptism, and receiving the Spirit with calling on Jesus’ name.
• Acts 3:6, 16 — Peter attributes the healing of the lame man to the name of Jesus Christ and to faith in that name.
• Acts 4:7–12 (esp. v.12) — The apostles deny any other saving name under heaven but Jesus.
• Acts 10:43–48 — Peter declares forgiveness is received through Jesus’ name and the Spirit falls on Gentile believers.
• Acts 19:13–17 — The failure of the sons of Sceva shows that Jesus’ name cannot be wielded as a magical formula apart from faith and authority.
• Romans 10:9–13 — Confession of Jesus as Lord and calling on his name are united