Acts 6:9
What does Acts 6:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 6:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 6:9 means
Stephen's powerful ministry and preaching provoked opposition from various groups within the Jewish community. Specifically, certain individuals from a synagogue known as the Synagogue of the Libertines, along with others from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia, rose up to dispute with him. These were most likely Hellenistic Jews from various parts of the Roman Empire, indicating that Stephen's message was impacting diverse Jewish populations and drawing attention from those who held differing interpretations of the Law and temple worship.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But some of those who were of the Synagogue named that of the Libertines, and some of the men of Cyrene and of Alexandria and those from Cilicia and Asia, had arguments with Stephen.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and there arose certain of those of the synagogue, called of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia, and Asia, disputing with Stephen,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now there arose some, of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And there arose up certain of those of the synagogue called of freedmen, and of Cyrenians, and of Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
Context
This verse initiates the conflict portion of the chapter, directly following the description of Stephen's signs and wonders in verse 8. It identifies the specific groups that challenged Stephen, immediately setting up the adversarial context for the subsequent events. This opposition marks a pivotal turn in the narrative, moving from internal growth to external persecution against a key figure of the early church.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 13:1
Now there were at Antioch, in the church that wasthere, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
- Acts 13:45
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
- 1 Corinthians 1:20
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- Acts 19:26
And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands:
- Acts 15:23
and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:
- Acts 23:34
And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,
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