Acts 7 1

Acts 7:1 kjv

Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

Acts 7:1 nkjv

Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?"

Acts 7:1 niv

Then the high priest asked Stephen, "Are these charges true?"

Acts 7:1 esv

And the high priest said, "Are these things so?"

Acts 7:1 nlt

Then the high priest asked Stephen, "Are these accusations true?"

Acts 7 verses

Acts 7 1 Meaning

Acts 7:1 records the high priest's direct question to Stephen, following the severe accusations made against him. This query, "Are these things so?", served as the official initiation of Stephen's defense, or more accurately, his trial before the Sanhedrin. It indicates the formality of the judicial proceedings and demands a response to the grave charges of blasphemy against Moses, God, the Temple, and the Law.

Acts 7 1 Context

Acts 7:1 marks the direct commencement of Stephen's trial before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish governing council. The verse follows a dramatic setup in Acts 6. Stephen, described as "full of grace and power," performed great wonders (Acts 6:8). This aroused the opposition of Hellenistic Jews who were unable to contend with his Spirit-inspired wisdom (Acts 6:9-10). As a result, they secretly instigated men to bring false charges against him (Acts 6:11), specifically alleging blasphemy against Moses, God, the holy place (Temple), and the Law, and claiming Stephen prophesied Jesus would destroy the Temple and change customs (Acts 6:13-14). Acts 6:15 famously depicts Stephen's face shining like an angel's as he stood before the council. The high priest's question in 7:1 is the direct response to these accusations, inviting Stephen to confirm or deny them, thus initiating one of the longest speeches in the Book of Acts, which becomes a historical and theological defense that culminates in a severe rebuke of his accusers and ultimately, Stephen's martyrdom. Historically, this court had previously tried Jesus (Mt 26:57) and the apostles Peter and John (Acts 4:5).

Acts 7 1 Word analysis

• And (δὲ, de): This conjunction serves as a mild connective. It suggests continuation from the preceding events in Acts 6, specifically the presentation of charges against Stephen and his angelic appearance. It doesn't imply a strong contrast but rather moves the narrative forward to the next stage of the trial.
• the high priest (ὁ ἀρχιερεύς, ho archiereus):
  • Original Language: "ho" is the definite article, "archiereus" refers to the high priest, the chief religious authority.
  • Significance: This specific title denotes the leader of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court. He was the one responsible for presiding over trials that dealt with religious law, blasphemy, and anything deemed a threat to Jewish faith or institutions. His identity (likely Caiaphas or his predecessor, though not explicitly named for Stephen's trial) reinforces the gravity of the setting and the authority challenging Stephen. This office was deeply intertwined with the Temple system and the Law, precisely the areas Stephen was accused of undermining.
• asked (εἶπεν, eipen):
  • Original Language: From λέγω (legō), meaning "to say, to speak." The imperfect tense often conveys an action in progress or the simple statement of an act.
  • Significance: While translated "asked," it literally means "said." The interrogative form of his statement makes it a question. This shows the high priest formally opened the proceedings, directly addressing Stephen, indicating a confrontational rather than neutral inquiry. It's not an invitation to open dialogue but a demand for a defense against specific charges.
• Are these things (ταῦτα, tauta):
  • Original Language: "these things," referring to the specific accusations leveled against Stephen in Acts 6:13-14.
  • Significance: This pronoun directly points back to the litany of charges: blasphemy against Moses, God, the Temple, and the Law, and predictions about Jesus changing Jewish customs and destroying the Temple. It is an umbrella term encompassing the entirety of the severe allegations.
• so (οὕτως, houtōs):
  • Original Language: Meaning "thus, in this manner, so."
  • Significance: This adverb seeks confirmation of the truth or validity of the accusations. The high priest's question "Are these things so?" is a direct challenge to Stephen to either admit the charges or begin his defense, confirming if the accusations indeed reflect reality.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And the high priest asked": This phrase immediately establishes the setting and the authoritative figure driving the trial. It underscores the formality and severity of the occasion. The "asking" is not casual; it is a judicial inquiry from the highest religious authority of the Jews.
• "Are these things so?": This seemingly simple question carries immense weight. It is the judicial imperative for Stephen to respond to capital charges. It isn't a neutral query but rather embodies the full extent of the Sanhedrin's opposition to the emerging Christian message. The phrasing implies an expectation of confirmation, a way to pressure Stephen into a confession, rather than an unbiased search for truth. This mirrors previous confrontations with early Christians, showing the high priest's pre-disposition towards the charges.

Acts 7 1 Bonus section

The High Priest's question implicitly confirms that the Sanhedrin found the charges serious enough to warrant a formal hearing, even a death sentence under Mosaic Law for blasphemy (Lev 24:16). The Sanhedrin at this time was controlled by the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection (Acts 23:8). This theological stance likely contributed to their inherent hostility towards any movement centered on Jesus' resurrection. The formal questioning of Stephen is part of a pattern of the Jewish leadership's sustained persecution against followers of Christ, which eventually led to the widespread dispersion of believers outside Jerusalem, paradoxically fulfilling God's plan for the global spread of the Gospel (Acts 8:1). Stephen’s detailed and prophet-like speech beginning in 7:2 can be seen as the Spirit speaking through him as promised by Jesus (Lk 12:11-12), confirming the wisdom that his adversaries could not withstand (Acts 6:10).

Acts 7 1 Commentary

Acts 7:1 is the pivot point where Stephen, previously a doer of great wonders, becomes the first significant martyr of the early church. The high priest's formal question, "Are these things so?", is far from an impartial inquiry. It echoes the questions posed to Jesus (Mk 14:60) and earlier apostles (Acts 4:7, 5:27). This was not a moment for seeking objective truth but for demanding a reply to capital charges framed by malicious intent (Acts 6:11-14). The high priest, acting as the supreme judge of the Jewish people, represents the entrenched religious authority resistant to the disruptive message of the Gospel. Stephen’s immediate response, detailed in the following verses, is not a simple denial but an expansive historical sermon, proving that God's plan unfolded sovereignly throughout history, often outside their human-made systems and even through Israel’s repeated rejection of His messengers. This direct confrontation between traditional authority and Spirit-filled testimony is a central theme in Acts.For practical usage, this verse reminds believers that we may be called to give an account of our faith (1 Pet 3:15) before authorities hostile to the truth. Stephen’s response exemplifies speaking truth boldly and Biblically even under threat.