Ready for Witness Protection?

You’ve seen it in the movies or TV shows.  Someone is in the right or wrong place at just the right or wrong time (depends on your perspective).  They see something that implicates some criminal and they agree to testify.  But the someone they’re testifying against isn’t very happy and wants to do them harm to stop them.  So law enforcement puts them into “Witness Protection” and gives them a new name and relocates them to a safer place.  They have to say good-bye to all their friends and family and give up their old life completely to save what’s left of the life they hope to have.  Sounds complicated.  And risky!

The Bible is full of folks who went through name changes for a variety of reasons.  Sarai became Sarah; Jacob became Israel; Simon became Peter; and last but not least, Saul, who went through a name change to become Paul (not exactly 007  top-secret agent stuff here).  Paul had recently been instrumental in the conversion of Sergius Paulus, who might have been his very first Gentile convert.  Perhaps to honor that milestone, Paul might have adopted his new moniker and, at the same time, put some distance between him and his old persona, Saul.  Why would he want to dump the old name and become someone new?  Witness Protection!  So he and his cohort, Barnabas, could make an impact with the Gospel and escape his past reputation as, well, read it for yourself:

But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.  Acts 8:3

Saul was not the dude you wanted to mess with.  He was out to “destroy the church” and everyone had heard about him.  How could he become the champion of the Gospel to the Gentiles with that rep?  Witness Protection!  So Barnabas and his newly-named partner began to “testify” all over the place about what they knew:

After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and persuading them to continue in the grace of God.  ⁴⁴ The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the message of the Lord.  ⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting him.  Acts 13:43-45

Paul’s enemies were hurling insults at him!  Not bad compared with the rocks he had encouraged others to hurl at the first martyr of the church, Stephen.  The name of the witness has already been changed.  This is where we get the “relocation”:

So the message of the Lord spread through the whole region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews incited the…women…and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district. ⁵¹ But they shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium.  Acts 13:49-51

Being a witness for Jesus is going to bring name-calling, insults, and persecution.  Jesus promised that would happen in Matthew 5.  So if you and I are going to make a difference for Christ by being witnesses to the Gospel, just expect it.  Call yourself anything you like, and go anywhere you must to share the Truth.  But by all means, remember the Holy Spirit is there to empower you wherever you go.  And that’s the best kind of Witness Protection.

Jacob