Acts 6 14

Acts 6:14 kjv

For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Acts 6:14 nkjv

for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us."

Acts 6:14 niv

For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."

Acts 6:14 esv

for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us."

Acts 6:14 nlt

We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us."

Acts 6 verses

Acts 6 14 Meaning

Acts 6:14 records the false accusation leveled against Stephen, alleging that he declared "this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us." This statement highlights the fundamental misrepresentation by his accusers: they twist partial truths (Jesus spoke of the Temple's desolation and brought a new covenant) into a charge of blasphemy and subversion against the revered Temple and the foundational Mosaic Law. The accusation aimed to portray Stephen's teaching, rooted in Jesus' message, as a radical threat to Jewish identity and divine tradition.

Acts 6 14 Context

Acts 6 describes the growth of the early church, leading to an issue concerning the equitable distribution of food to Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) widows. To resolve this, seven men "full of the Spirit and wisdom," including Stephen, are chosen to oversee daily ministry. Stephen, however, also powerfully proclaimed the Gospel, performing "great wonders and signs" (Acts 6:8). This spiritual power and persuasive teaching stirred opposition from various synagogues, particularly the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Acts 6:9), who were unable to withstand his Spirit-filled wisdom. Frustrated, they resorted to false witnesses who leveled the charges found in Acts 6:13-14 before the Sanhedrin, paralleling the false accusations made against Jesus Himself. The immediate historical context highlights the escalating tension between the rapidly expanding Christian movement and the established Jewish religious authorities who felt their traditions and institutions threatened by the new teachings centered on Jesus.

Acts 6 14 Word Analysis

• For we have heard him say,: Implies a claim of direct testimony from multiple witnesses. It is presented as an objective reporting of Stephen's words, but context (Acts 6:11-13) reveals they were "false witnesses" who suborned others, suggesting either fabrication or malicious misinterpretation.
• that this Jesus: "This" (οὗτος, houtos) serves as a demonstrative pronoun, pointing directly to Jesus as the subject of the perceived threat. It's often used by opponents in a dismissive or contemptuous manner, similar to "this fellow."
• of Nazareth: (Ναζαρηνὸς, Nazarēnos) Designates Jesus' origin from Nazareth, a town with little prestige (Jn 1:46). Used here to associate Stephen's message with a discredited figure, aiming to diminish the authority of the message itself.
• shall destroy: (ἀπολέσει, apolessei) From ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi), meaning "to destroy utterly," "ruin," or "put to an end." This word suggests violent or total eradication. The accusers take Jesus' prophecies about the Temple's judgment (e.g., Mk 13:2; Lk 21:6) or the symbolic destruction and rebuilding of the Temple of His body (Jn 2:19) and twist them into a direct, subversive act by Jesus (or advocated by Stephen).
• this place: (τὸν τόπον τοῦτον, ton topon touton) Refers specifically to the Temple in Jerusalem. For Jews, the Temple was the preeminent symbol of God's dwelling, national identity, and the center of worship and sacrifice. Any perceived threat to it was considered ultimate blasphemy against God and the people.
• and shall change: (ἀλλάξει, allaxei) From ἀλλάσσω (allassō), meaning "to change," "alter," or "transform." The nuance here is not one of mere modification, but a complete reversal or abolition, an overturning of established order.
• the customs: (ἔθη, ethē) Plural of ἔθος (ethos), refers to the established religious practices, observances, and traditional laws derived from the Mosaic Law. These include cultic rituals, dietary laws, festivals, and ethical principles, foundational to Jewish life and covenant.
• which Moses delivered us: Emphasizes the divine origin and non-negotiable authority of these customs, stressing that they came directly from God through Moses, His chosen mediator. To speak against them was to speak against God's direct revelation and the covenant relationship.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place": This phrase directly parallels the false accusations against Jesus regarding the Temple (Mk 14:58). It reflects the deep fear and misunderstanding that Jesus' claims of authority and the dawning of the new covenant threatened the old structures and systems they held dear. While Jesus prophesied the Temple's physical destruction, which happened in 70 AD, the charge against Stephen presents it as a direct act of malicious subversion by Jesus and His followers.
• "and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us": This highlights the theological core of the conflict. The accusers saw Stephen's teachings (which presented Christ as the fulfillment and end of the Law for righteousness) as an attempt to abolish the foundational Mosaic Law. This demonstrates the resistance to the idea that God's work had progressed beyond the external observances of the Old Covenant, toward an internal, Spirit-empled faith in Christ. This "change" was perceived as an abrogation of divine ordinance, a radical departure from millennia of tradition, rather than a divine progression to the reality promised by the Law itself.

Acts 6 14 Bonus Section

The accusations against Stephen closely parallel those brought against Jesus before His crucifixion (Mk 14:58), establishing a pattern of persecution against Christ's faithful witnesses. Stephen's countenance shining "like the face of an angel" (Acts 6:15) directly following these false accusations serves as a powerful contrast, emphasizing his innocence and the divine presence upon him, much like Moses' radiant face after encountering God. This divine approval validates the truth of Stephen's message, despite the severe charges. The "change" of customs alluded to is actually the divine transition from the shadow to the substance, from the Mosaic Law's temporary role to the ultimate reality of Christ. This was the true nature of the 'threat' to the old order: not an act of destruction, but one of divinely ordained progression and fulfillment, which exposed the spiritual bankruptcy of relying solely on external rituals.

Acts 6 14 Commentary

Acts 6:14 records the climactic accusation against Stephen before the Sanhedrin, revealing the core theological tension between nascent Christianity and traditional Judaism. The charge that Jesus would "destroy this place" (the Temple) and "change the customs which Moses delivered us" was a potent accusation designed to inflame religious zeal and political fear. It reflects a deliberate distortion of Jesus' teachings: while Jesus did speak of the Temple's eventual desolation (e.g., Lk 21:6) and that He Himself was the greater Temple (Jn 2:19), Stephen's accusers twist this into an endorsement of sacrilege. Similarly, Jesus did not "destroy" the Law but "fulfilled" it (Mt 5:17), leading to its consummation and a new covenant (Heb 8:13; Rom 10:4), but this was misinterpreted as an attempt to abolish all sacred traditions. This accusation against Stephen foreshadows the persecutions faced by early Christians, particularly Paul (Acts 21:28; 24:6), demonstrating the deep-seated opposition to the understanding that salvation came not through adherence to outward Law and Temple rituals, but through faith in Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied God's law and presence. The passage underlines how truth, especially when it challenges established norms, can be weaponized through misrepresentation by those clinging to old paradigms.