8Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. [6:9] But some from the synagogue called the Synagogue of the Freedmen arose — men from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia — and debated with Stephen. [6:10] They were not able to stand against the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. [6:11] Then they secretly put men up to say: "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God." [6:12] They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and coming upon him suddenly, they seized him and led him before the Sanhedrin. [6:13] They also set up false witnesses who said: "This man does not stop speaking words against this holy place and the law. [6:14] For we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us." [6:15] All who sat in the Sanhedrin, gazing at him, saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
ACT 6:8-15
The Arrest of Stephen
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Jewish context, synagogues served as communal centers for worship, education, and social organization. The mention of the 'synagogue of the Freedmen' points to a group of former slaves, likely from diverse regions like Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia, who had gained their freedom and formed a distinct community within Jerusalem. Freedmen often retained ties to their places of origin, creating a network of cultural and religious influence. Stephen, described as 'full of grace and power' , was performing 'wonders and signs' , which would have been seen as divine validation of his message. However, his teachings provoked conflict, particularly with those who saw them as blasphemous against Moses and God. The use of 'suborned men' and 'false witnesses' reflects a deliberate, underhanded strategy to discredit Stephen, leveraging the honor-shame dynamics of the community to justify his arrest. This episode highlights the tension between emerging Christian teachings and established Jewish institutions.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
ACT 6:8
- KJV
- And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
- BSB
- Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
- Koinōnos
- Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
ACT 6:9
- KJV
- Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
- BSB
- But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They disputed with Stephen,
- Koinōnos
- But some from the synagogue called the Synagogue of the Freedmen arose — men from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia — and debated with Stephen.
ACT 6:10
- KJV
- And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
- BSB
- but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
- Koinōnos
- They were not able to stand against the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
ACT 6:11
- KJV
- Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
- BSB
- Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
- Koinōnos
- Then they secretly put men up to say: "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.
ACT 6:12
- KJV
- And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
- BSB
- So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,
- Koinōnos
- They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and coming upon him suddenly, they seized him and led him before the Sanhedrin.
ACT 6:13
- KJV
- And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
- BSB
- where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
- Koinōnos
- They also set up false witnesses who said: "This man does not stop speaking words against this holy place and the law.
ACT 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.
- BSB
- For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
- Koinōnos
- For we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us.
ACT 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.
- BSB
- All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
- Koinōnos
- All who sat in the Sanhedrin, gazing at him, saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 20.6.3
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 20.6.3
“But now Cæsar's freed-men and his friends were very zealous on the behalf of Cumanus and the Samaritans; and they had prevailed over the Jews”
Cited to ground: The mention of the 'synagogue of the Freedmen' points to a group of former slaves, likely from diverse regions like Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia, who had gained their freedom and formed a distinct community within Jerusalem.
Translator's notes
ACT 6:8
- of grace:The word translated 'grace' here often referred to a divine, unmerited favor or gift, but it also encompassed the idea of charm, attractiveness, or a pleasing quality that inspires goodwill in others.
ACT 6:9
- Freedmen:The term 'Freedmen' specifically refers to former slaves who had been granted their freedom, often retaining some ties or obligations to their former masters, and forming a distinct social class.
ACT 6:11
- they suborned:The phrase 'they suborned' implies a deliberate and underhanded instigation, suggesting that these individuals were secretly put up to the task of making false accusations.
ACT 6:13
- false:The word translated 'false' here denotes something that is not only untrue but also deceptive, often with an intent to mislead or betray, rather than simply being mistaken.