Acts 6 11

Acts 6:11 kjv

Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

Acts 6:11 nkjv

Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."

Acts 6:11 niv

Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God."

Acts 6:11 esv

Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."

Acts 6:11 nlt

So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, "We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God."

Acts 6 verses

Acts 6 11 Meaning

Acts 6:11 describes the strategy employed by opponents of Stephen, who, unable to counter his Spirit-filled wisdom and powerful preaching, resorted to illicit means. They secretly persuaded men to bring false accusations against him, specifically that he uttered blasphemous words against Moses and against God. This accusation was one of the most serious possible under Jewish law, carrying the penalty of death. It laid the groundwork for Stephen's arrest and eventual martyrdom, echoing the charges brought against Jesus.

Acts 6 11 Context

Acts chapter 6 begins with a internal conflict within the early church regarding the daily distribution of food to Greek-speaking Jewish widows. To address this, the apostles instruct the congregation to select seven men full of the Spirit and wisdom to oversee this ministry. Stephen, noted for being full of faith and the Holy Spirit, is among those chosen. Immediately after his selection and ordination (Acts 6:5-6), he begins to perform great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8). His public ministry draws the attention of members from various synagogues of "Freedmen" (likely Jewish former slaves from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia). These individuals enter into public debate with Stephen but find themselves unable to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke (Acts 6:9-10). Unable to defeat him intellectually or spiritually, they resort to underhanded tactics to discredit him, leading directly to the accusations detailed in verse 11 and his subsequent arrest. This verse marks a significant escalation in opposition against the early Christian community, mirroring the persecutions Jesus himself faced.

Acts 6 11 Word analysis

• Then (Τότε - Tote): This temporal adverb indicates a sequential action, suggesting that what follows is a direct consequence of the preceding events (the inability to stand against Stephen's wisdom). It highlights a turning point.
• they secretly induced (ὑπέβαλον - hypebalon): From hypoballō, meaning "to throw under," "to instigate secretly," or "to suborn." This powerful verb conveys a deliberate, covert, and deceitful act of manipulation. It implies they could not win by argument and so resorted to underhanded tactics, manufacturing an accusation rather than honestly refuting his claims. It highlights their malice and premeditation.
• men (ἄνδρας - andras): Specifically referring to males, often implying figures with a certain social standing or those considered credible witnesses. These were not just random individuals but presumably persons chosen to give weight to the false testimony.
• who said (λέγοντας - legontas): A participle, indicating the men were actively saying or declaring these accusations. This was a public pronouncement, not a private whisper.
• "We have heard" (Ἀκηκόαμεν - Akekoamen): A perfect active indicative, implying a completed action with continuing results. By saying "we have heard," they claim to be eyewitnesses or have direct, reliable information, lending a false air of authenticity and authority to their testimony.
• him (αὐτοῦ - autou): Refers directly to Stephen, making him the sole target of the slander.
• utter (λαλοῦντος - lalountos): A present participle from laleō, "to speak, to talk." It suggests a continuous action, implying that Stephen frequently, not just once, spoke these "blasphemous words."
• blasphemous (βλάσφημα - blasphēma): From blasphēmos, meaning "abusive, scurrilous, impious." In this context, it refers to speaking contemptuously or irreverently about sacred things. In Judaism, blasphemia was a capital offense, referring to irreverence against God, divine institutions, or revered figures like Moses. It was often a charge used to silence those who challenged established religious traditions or perceived divine authority.
• words (ῥήματα - rhēmata): Specific sayings or pronouncements, rather than just vague speech. This implies they had particular statements Stephen allegedly made, although the accusations themselves were false.
• against Moses (εἰς Μωϋσῆν - eis Mōusēn): The first charge. Moses was revered as the lawgiver and prophet through whom God gave the Torah. To speak "against Moses" would mean speaking against the Law, criticizing or diminishing its authority or sacredness. This was a direct attack on Stephen's orthodoxy and respect for Jewish tradition.
• and God (καὶ τὸν Θεόν - kai ton Theon): The second and most serious charge. Blasphemy against God was punishable by death by stoning (Lev 24:16). This accusation often involved any teaching or action deemed to insult God's honor, overturn His laws, or claim divine prerogatives not legitimately held. In Stephen's case, it likely pertains to perceived attacks on the temple's sanctity or the idea that God was abandoning the Jewish sacrificial system for a new way.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then they secretly induced men": This phrase reveals the insidious and premeditated nature of the opposition. It was not an impulsive act of outrage but a planned maneuver, highlighting deceit and a lack of true argument on their part. This pattern of manipulation mirrors what Jesus faced from religious authorities.
• "We have heard him utter blasphemous words": The combined accusation is precisely framed to invoke the severest possible legal punishment. By claiming to have "heard" these words, they present themselves as credible witnesses, despite the testimony being fabricated. The coupling of "Moses" (representing the Law and tradition) and "God" (divine honor) makes the charge maximally inflammatory, ensuring public outrage and judicial severity. Stephen's actual preaching about Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the true "temple" likely formed the basis for their twisted interpretation and false accusation. This charge directly anticipates the focus of Stephen's defense in Acts 7, where he will show the historical pattern of Israel's rejection of God's messengers and a proper understanding of the Law and the temple.

Acts 6 11 Bonus section

• The term "Freedmen" (Greek: Libertinōn) likely refers to Jewish former slaves, or their descendants, who had been brought to Rome (e.g., during Pompey's conquest of Judea) and later gained their freedom, establishing synagogues in Jerusalem upon their return. Having regained their freedom, they may have been particularly zealous for Jewish traditions to demonstrate their loyalty and orthodoxy. This added an extra layer of fervent, potentially less tolerant, opposition to Stephen's message.
• The parallel with Jesus' trial is significant. Both Jesus and Stephen were accused of speaking against the temple and the Law, illustrating a consistent pattern of resistance to God's new revelation from those committed to the older forms. Stephen, "full of the Holy Spirit" (Ac 6:5), speaks with wisdom and power that reflects Jesus himself. His ministry, defense, and eventual martyrdom closely emulate Christ's path.
• While the charge was "blasphemy," Stephen was likely not cursing God but rather presenting a progressive understanding of God's relationship with humanity, one that moved beyond the confines of the physical temple and the Mosaic Law as final ends in themselves, pointing to Christ as the fulfillment. This concept was deemed "blasphemous" because it challenged the deep-seated theological and cultural foundations of their faith.

Acts 6 11 Commentary

Acts 6:11 marks a critical turning point where the theological and spiritual debate regarding the new covenant found in Christ escalates into outright persecution fueled by fabricated charges. The Hellenistic Jews from the Freedmen's synagogues, unable to logically counter Stephen's arguments, resorted to subversion. Their accusation of blasphemy "against Moses" and "against God" was the most effective way to stir public outrage and leverage religious legal frameworks against Stephen. This mirrors the accusations against Jesus, who was likewise charged with challenging the Law and threatening the Temple (Mk 14:58).

Stephen's accusers deliberately misinterpreted or twisted his teachings about the changing nature of God's covenant and the coming obsolescence of the temple system. They viewed his Spirit-filled pronouncements, which revealed God's progression beyond strict adherence to the Mosaic Law's outward forms, as an attack on their entire religious and national identity. The accusation of blasphemy, punishable by death, illustrates the extreme threat they perceived from Stephen's ministry and the radical shift it represented. It underscores the intense conflict between the established Jewish religious order and the nascent Christian movement's understanding of God's unfolding redemptive plan.

Practical usage: This event serves as a stark reminder that opposition to God's truth often manifests not through reasoned debate but through slander and false accusations, particularly when spiritual authority cannot be intellectually challenged. It highlights the potential for religious zeal to become dangerously misguided and oppressive when it lacks genuine understanding of God's will. Believers may face similar baseless attacks when faithfully proclaiming the Gospel, but are called to respond with integrity and reliance on the Spirit, as Stephen did.