Acts 6:10
What does Acts 6:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 6:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 6:10 means
Despite the attempts of his opponents to argue against him, they were utterly unable to refute the wisdom and the spiritual power with which Stephen spoke. This highlights that Stephen's words were not merely human eloquence but were inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit, making his arguments irrefutable from a logical or spiritual standpoint. This divine anointing rendered his adversaries speechless, frustrated by their inability to counter the truth he proclaimed, signifying the superior power of God's Spirit in his witness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But they were not able to get the better of him, for his words were full of wisdom and of the Spirit.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
Context
This verse directly follows the description of the opposition to Stephen in verse 9, illustrating the effectiveness and divine backing of his preaching. It explains why his adversaries resorted to other tactics in the subsequent verses. This inability to refute Stephen's arguments underscores the spiritual power at work through him, further escalating the tension and leading to more desperate measures by his opponents.
v.9But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue calledthe synagogueof the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
v.10This passage
v.11Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 32:18
For I am full of words; The spirit within me constraineth me.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4
And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
- Acts 5:39
but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God.
- Acts 7:51
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.
- Ezekiel 3:27
But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.
- John 7:46
The officers answered, Never man so spake.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Acts 6
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Acts 6.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Blasphemy
Blasphemy in the Bible refers to irreverence shown toward God, holy things, and even people who represent God.
Topic
Bible Verses About Being Filled with the Spirit
The Bible encourages believers to be filled with the Spirit, a divine empowerment for Christian life and witness
Topic
Bible Verses About Widows
The Bible consistently shows God's care for widows and calls His people to also care for them, reflecting His compassionate heart.
What the Bible says about…