Acts 6:13
What does Acts 6:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 6:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 6:13 means
Once Stephen was before the council, his accusers brought forward false witnesses to testify against him. These witnesses claimed that Stephen persistently spoke against the holy temple and the Jewish Law. These accusations were designed to portray Stephen as an enemy of their sacred traditions and institutions, thereby turning the council and the people against him. The deliberate use of false testimony underscores the deceit and malice motivating Stephen's persecutors, mirroring the tactics used against Jesus Christ himself.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:
KJV
King James Version · 1611And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they got false witnesses who said, This man is for ever saying things against this holy place and against the law:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862they set up also false witnesses, saying, `This one doth not cease to speak evil sayings against this holy place and the law,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they set up false witnesses, who said: This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place and the law.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they set false witnesses, saying, This man does not cease speaking words against the holy place and the law;
Context
Following Stephen's forcible seizure and presentation to the council in verse 12, this verse details the specific false accusations levied against him. It provides the legal basis, however fabricated, for the charges and links directly to the content of the accusations in verse 14. This act of setting up false witnesses mirrors patterns of opposition against God's servants and establishes the nature of the charges Stephen must address.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 21:28
crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.
- Acts 6:11
Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
- Psalms 27:12
Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries: For false witnesses are risen up against me, And such as breathe out cruelty.
- Acts 25:8
while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all.
- Psalms 35:11
Unrighteous witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I know not.
- Matthew 24:15
When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),
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