Patents selected names for their babies either according to the meaning of the

name or because the name recalled another person (often a grandfather).

Similarly, when prophets were given new names in adult life the name was chosen

either for its meaning or because of its associations with a historical character.

The following Christian prophets seem to have received new names with significant

meanings: Joseph-Barnabas, Judas-Barsabbas, Agabus, and perhaps Manaen,

Silas and Paul.

We will see that the practice was not restricted to Christians.

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