Acts 6:11-15 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:12

Seized for caught, A.V.; into for to, A.V. And they stirred up ; i.e. by means of the reports spread by the men whom they suborned, and by working upon the feelings of the people and the elders and scribes, these men of the synagogues so excited them that they obtained permission to arrest Stephen and bring him before the Sanhedrim. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:13

Words for blasphemous words, A.V. and T.R. Set up false witnesses . The similarity of Stephen's trial to that of our Lord is striking. The same set purpose to silence a true-speaking tongue by death; the same base employment of false witnesses; the same wresting of good words into criminal acts; and the same meekness and patience unto death in the righteous martyrs. Blessed servant to tread so closely in thy Lord's steps! (comp. Matthew 5:11 , Matthew 5:12 ; 1 Peter 4:1-19 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:14

Unto us for us, A.V. We have heard him say , etc. These false witnesses, like those who distorted our Lord's words ( Matthew 26:61 ; John 2:19 ), doubtless based their accusation upon some semblance of truth. If Stephen had said anything like what Jesus said to the woman of Samaria ( John 4:21 ) or to his disciples ( Mark 13:2 ), or what the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote (8. 13), or what St. Paul wrote to the Colossians ( Colossians 2:16 , Colossians 2:17 ), his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:15

Fastening their eyes for looking steadfastly, A.V. (see above, Acts 3:4 ). The council would naturally all look at him, in expectation of his answer to the evidence just delivered against him. In his face, illuminated with a Divine radiance, they had an answer which they would have done well to listen to (for the brightness of an angel's face, comp. Matthew 28:3 ; Daniel 10:6 ; Revelation 10:1 , etc.). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:15

The logic of heavenly luster. "And all … saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." The two occasions of the mention of Stephen have already apprised us of an exceptional spirituality marking his character, and it cannot but be that the exceptional splendor and luminousness of his countenance here spoken of are more or less connected with that fact. The hour of martyrdom is drawing on apace for Stephen, and he is already raised to that little company which numbered in it—Moses in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:15

The angel-face on man. Something of a proverbial character rests on the expression, " Saw his face as it had been the face of an angel". Some think that this description" may be traced to the impression made at the time on St. Paul and reported by him to St. Luke." There was "calm dignity," but there was something more and better; there was the vision of Christ as present with him, and the radiant face was the response he made to the vision. Compare the skin of Moses' face shining, and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:11

Then they suborned men - To suborn in law means to procure a person to take such a false oath as constitutes perjury (Webster). It has substantially this sense here. It means that they induced them to declare what was false, or to bring a false accusation against him. This was done, not by declaring a palpable and open falsehood, but by “perverting” his doctrines, and by stating their own “inferences” as what he had actually maintained - the common way in which people oppose doctrines from... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:12

And they stirred up the people - They “excited” the people, or alarmed their fears, as had been done before when they sought to put the Lord Jesus to death, Matthew 27:20.The elders - The members of the Sanhedrin, or Great Council.Scribes - See the notes on Matthew 2:4.To the council - To the Sanhedrin, or the Great Council of the nation, which claimed jurisdiction in the matters of religion. See the notes on Matthew 2:4. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:13

And set up false witnesses - It has been made a question why these persons are called “false” witnesses, since it is supposed by many that they reported merely the “words” of Stephen. It may be replied that if they did report merely his “words”; if Stephen had actually said what they affirmed, yet they perverted his meaning. They accused him of “blasphemy”; that is, of calumnious and reproachful words against Moses and against God That Stephen had spoken in such a manner, or had designed to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:14

Shall change - Shall abolish them, or shall introduce others in their place.The customs - The ceremonial rites and observances of sacrifices, festivals, etc., appointed by Moses. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 6:14

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