Acts 6:11-15 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:15

Saw his face, as it had been the face of an angel - Sayings like this are frequent among the Jewish writers, who represent God as distinguishing eminent men by causing a glory to shine from their faces. Rabbi Gedalia said that, "when Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh, they appeared like those angels which minister before the face of the Lord; for their stature appeared greater, and the splendor of their faces was like the sun, and their eyes like the wheels of the sun; their beard like... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:12

Verse 12 12.Being overcome with the power of the Spirit, they give over disputing, but they prepare false witnesses, that with false and slanderous reports, they may oppress him; whereby it appeareth that they did strive with an evil conscience. For what can be more unmeet than in their cause to lean unto lies? (359) Admit he were a wicked man, and guilty, yet he must not have false witness borne against him. (360) But hypocrites, which shroud themselves under zeal, do carelessly grant... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:14

Verse 14 14.We have heard It shall full well appear by Stephen’s defense, that he never spake anything touching Moses or the temple without reverence; and yet, notwithstanding, this was not laid to his charge for nothing, for he had taught the abrogating of the law. But they are false witnesses in this, and suborned to lie, because they corrupt purposely those things which were well and godly spoken. So Christ was enforced to clear himself, that he came, not to destroy the law, but to fulfill... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:15

Verse 15 15.And when they had beheld. Men do commonly in places of judgment turn their eyes toward the party arraigned, when as they look for his defense. He saith that Stephen appeared like to an angel; this is not spoken of his natural face, but rather of his present countenance. For whereas the countenance of those which are arraigned useth commonly to be pale, whereas they stammer in their speech, and show other signs of fear, Luke teacheth that there was no such thing in Stephen, but that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:8-15

The service of the lip and the glory of the countenance. The wise step of appointing seven deacons "to serve tables," and thus to liberate the apostles for prayer and preaching, like other good causes, had results which reached beyond the first object of it. It led to the formation of a most useful body of men, who have served Christ and his Church in other things beside mere "tables 'or temporalities. It brought out Stephen; and who shall say how much that had to do with the conversion of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:8-15

Stephen's work and witness. I. HIS SPIRIT DESCRIBED . "Full of grace and power. " We can feel rather than define the force of those words. Grace is first the favor of God felt in the man's soul, then manifested in his whole bearing, tone, conversation, and way of life. The effect is like the cause; the recipient of Divine favor makes a deeply favorable impression upon others. Power, again, is the Divine will making itself felt in the man as his will; and the effect is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:8-15

Stephen before the council. The conflict between the spirit of Judaism and the Spirit of Christ. Show the importance of this conflict in the early Church, lasting for more than a whole generation, lingering into the second century. But chiefly brought to an end through one (Saul of Tarsus), himself a trophy of the Spirit, exalted out of the very midst of the fiercest fire of Jewish bigotry. I. THE DIVINE WITNESS . Stephen. 1. Natural gifts; Jewish training; Hellenistic.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:9-15

Fanaticism. Fanaticism has one respectable feature, that it is sincere. The fanatic believes what he asserts to be true, and he is earnest and zealous in the maintenance and propagation of his belief. But when we have said thus much we have said all that can be said in his favor. In fanaticism there is a culpable neglect of the reason which God has given to man to be his guide. The fanatic shuts his eyes and closes his ears, and rushes on his way with no more reflection or discrimination... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:10-11

The weakness of persecutors. Attention is drawn to the fact, which has received frequent illustration through the martyr-ages, that men only resort to persecuting tactics when they become conscious of their moral helplessness and theological inefficiency. The persecutor is like the swearer; No man ever needs to curse if his word is known to he truthful. No man ever needs to persecute if he has the right on his side, and faith in those moral forces which ever uphold the right. As the line... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:11

Then they suborned , etc. The resource of those who are worsted in argument is violence or treachery. Blasphemous words against Moses . It must be remembered that at this time the whole Jewish people were in a state of ill-suppressed frenzy and most sensitive jealousy for the honor of the Mosaic institutions—feelings which broke out in constant revolts against the Roman power. The accusation against the apostles of speaking blasphemies against Moses was therefore the most likely one they... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 6:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:8-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:8-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:8-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:9-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:10-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 6:11

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