Acts 6 15

Acts 6:15 kjv

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Acts 6:15 nkjv

And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Acts 6:15 niv

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 6:15 esv

And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 6:15 nlt

At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel's.

Acts 6 verses

Acts 6 15 Meaning

Acts chapter 6, verse 15 describes how those gathered in the Jewish Council, the Sanhedrin, fixed their gaze upon Stephen and observed his face was transformed to appear like the face of an angel. This verse highlights a supernatural manifestation of divine favor and purity upon Stephen, serving as a divine endorsement of his innocence and the truth of his testimony amidst false accusations. It signals a divine presence and authorization, setting him apart as a chosen messenger of God.

Acts 6 15 Context

Acts chapter 6 opens with a dispute among the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jewish believers regarding the daily distribution to their widows. To address this, the apostles appoint seven men "full of the Spirit and of wisdom" to oversee this ministry, allowing the apostles to dedicate themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. Stephen is prominent among these seven, described as "full of grace and power" (Acts 6:8). He begins to perform great wonders and signs, and his wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke could not be resisted by the various synagogues (Cilicia, Asia, Alexandria, Cyrene). This success, however, quickly stirred up opposition, leading to the fabrication of false testimonies against him, accusing him of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God, and specifically against the Temple and the Law (Acts 6:11-14). Acts 6:15 marks the moment when Stephen stands before the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish judicial body, as these charges are laid against him, setting the stage for his powerful sermon in chapter 7.

Historically, the Sanhedrin held immense authority in Jewish life, interpreting the Law and prosecuting perceived religious offenders. For a Jew, accusing someone of blasphemy against the Law or Temple was a capital offense. In this volatile setting, Stephen, one of the first deacons, stands accused, echoing the trials of prophets of old and even Jesus Himself, who was accused before this same body. His radiant face served as a dramatic counterpoint to the hostile and judgmental faces of his accusers, affirming his divine calling in a manner reminiscent of biblical encounters with God's glory.

Acts 6 15 Word analysis

• And (καί, kai): A simple conjunction connecting this observation to the preceding accusations against Stephen. It signifies an immediate reaction or concurrent event to the bringing forward of witnesses.
• all (πάντες, pantes): Emphasizes the collective observation of the entire Sanhedrin, suggesting a universal, undeniable sight experienced by everyone present, from the high priest to the scribes and elders. It underscores the public and verifiable nature of the manifestation.
• who sat (οἱ καθήμενοι, hoi kathēmenoi): Refers to the members of the Sanhedrin. Their posture of sitting denotes their official capacity and judicial authority. This detail highlights that this divine sign was displayed before those who wielded ultimate earthly judgment.
• in the Council (ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ, en tō synedriō): Specifies the setting as the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court. This detail emphasizes the weight of the moment and the solemnity of the judicial proceedings. The divine glory manifesting in such a formal, hostile setting makes it even more potent.
• looking intently at him (ἀτενίσαντες αὐτῷ, atenisantes autō): The Greek verb atenizo signifies a fixed, steadfast, intense gaze. This was not a casual glance but a concentrated, piercing look, likely born of hostility, curiosity, and possibly a challenge to Stephen. This intense focus allowed them to clearly perceive the subsequent divine change.
• saw (εἶδον, eidon): Simple past tense of 'to see,' indicating a direct and objective perception. They witnessed something undeniable.
• his face (τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ, to prosōpon autou): Refers to Stephen's countenance, the most visible and expressive part of a person. The transformation of the face is significant as it often reflects the inner state or a divine encounter.
• as (ὡς, hōs): A comparative particle, meaning "like," "as if," or "just as." It denotes a resemblance rather than an exact identity. Stephen did not literally become an angel but took on a glorious appearance associated with angels.
• the face of an angel (πρόσωπον ἀγγέλου, prosōpon angelou): This is the climactic descriptive phrase. In biblical tradition, angels are messengers of God, often depicted as glorious, radiating light, and inspiring awe or fear. The phrase signifies purity, holiness, divine endorsement, authority, and perhaps even light radiating from him, similar to Moses after receiving the Law on Mount Sinai. It speaks not necessarily to beauty but to supernatural composure, holiness, and the unmistakable mark of divine presence and approval, making his message divinely authenticated.

• "All who sat in the Council looking intently at him saw his face as the face of an angel.": This complete phrase powerfully communicates a unanimous, concentrated observation by the highest Jewish authority that resulted in the undeniable perception of a supernatural manifestation of divine favor upon Stephen. This phenomenon validated Stephen's words and status as a divinely appointed messenger, acting as a direct rebuttal to the false charges laid against him. The ironic contrast is striking: they accused him of blasphemy against God and His Law, yet God’s glory visibly rested upon him. It was a tangible sign of Stephen's purity and divine election, placing him in a prophetic lineage of those who bore God's light.

Acts 6 15 Bonus section

The "face of an angel" not only signifies a radiant, calm, or awe-inspiring appearance but also connects Stephen directly to the very nature of an angelic messenger (aggelos in Greek meaning messenger). Just as angels brought divine messages, Stephen, standing before the Sanhedrin, was serving as God's messenger, delivering a divinely inspired word (which unfolds in his long discourse in Acts chapter 7). His radiant face could have also been a spiritual "flashback" for the Sanhedrin to Moses and the giving of the Law, challenging them to recognize Stephen as a divinely authorized bearer of a new, perhaps more profound, aspect of God's truth that superseded the ceremonial law. It was God's immediate and dramatic rebuttal to their attempts to discredit and silence His chosen servant, revealing Stephen's communion with the divine even in the midst of extreme adversity. This also illustrates how the Holy Spirit empowers believers, making them shine with divine glory even in persecution, witnessing to Christ in life and even in death.

Acts 6 15 Commentary

Acts 6:15 presents a profound moment of divine attestation amidst human malice. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, stood before the highest Jewish court, facing capital charges rooted in religious jealousy and misunderstanding. In this moment of intense scrutiny, God supernaturally transformed Stephen’s face to appear "as the face of an angel." This was not merely an aesthetic change; it was a visible sign of God's manifest presence and endorsement, akin to Moses' radiant face after communing with God on Mount Sinai, a moment deeply revered in Jewish tradition. The angelic visage communicated purity, holiness, divine authority, and truthfulness, challenging the Sanhedrin's false accusations and asserting Stephen’s divine mission. It served as a direct prophetic sign, placing Stephen in the company of God's authentic messengers who, in times of grave trial, are undeniably marked by heavenly glory. It was a visible counter-witness against their false charges, a silent, undeniable testimony to Stephen’s blamelessness and divine authority as a mouthpiece for God.