Stephen's Wisdom and Opposition
Acts 6:8-15
Acts.6.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Στεφανος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- πληρης: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- χαριτος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- δυναμεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εποιει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- τερατα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- σημεια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- μεγαλα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- λαω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 6:5 (verbal): Immediate context: Stephen is earlier described as "full of faith and of the Holy Spirit," directly connecting the characterization in 6:8 (full of grace/power) to his selection and giftedness.
- Acts 7:55 (verbal): Later scene of Stephen at his martyrdom likewise depicts him as filled with the Holy Spirit, continuing the portrait of divine presence/power that enabled his signs.
- Acts 5:12 (verbal): Describes the apostles performing 'signs and wonders among the people'—language and activity parallel Stephen's wonder-working in the community.
- Acts 2:22 (thematic): Peter's sermon describes Jesus as attested by 'mighty works and wonders and signs'—Stephen's miracle-working evokes the same pattern of divine authentication.
- Acts 1:8 (thematic): Promises power from the Holy Spirit for witness and ministry; provides theological framework for the 'power' by which Stephen performed signs.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
- And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts.6.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ανεστησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- δε: CONJ
- τινες: PRON,nom,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- συναγωγης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- λεγομενης: VERB,pres,pass,part,gen,sg,f
- Λιβερτινων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- Κυρηναιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- Αλεξανδρεων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- απο: PREP
- Κιλικιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- Ασιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- συζητουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Στεφανω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 2:10 (verbal): Lists diaspora groups (including those from Libya near Cyrene and Alexandria/parts of Asia) present at Pentecost — same ethnic/regional names as in the synagogue list of 6:9.
- Acts 11:20 (thematic): Mentions men from Cyprus and Cyrene who evangelized to Hellenists in Antioch — parallels the activity and presence of Cyrenian/Libertine diaspora Jews encountered in Acts 6:9.
- Acts 18:24-28 (thematic): Describes Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew eloquent in Scripture and active in synagogues — connects to the reference to Alexandrians in the synagogue disputing with Stephen.
- Acts 6:1 (structural): Earlier verse distinguishes Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Jews from Hebraic Jews and introduces the dispute over neglect of Hellenistic widows — sets the broader Hellenist/Hebrew tension framing 6:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now those who came to dispute with Stephen were from the synagogue called the Freedmen—men from Cyrene and Alexandria, and others from Cilicia and Asia.
- And there arose certain from the synagogue called the Freedmen, and of Cyrene and Alexandria, and of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
Acts.6.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ισχυον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- αντιστηναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- σοφια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ελαλει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Acts 6:8 (structural): Immediate context: Stephen is described as full of faith and power and doing great signs, providing the basis for opponents' inability to resist his Spirit‑filled speech.
- Acts 4:13 (thematic): Similar reaction of opponents to Spirit‑empowered speakers: the council is struck by the boldness and perceives the speakers have been with Jesus, underscoring authority beyond human wisdom.
- Luke 21:15 (verbal): Jesus' promise to give 'a mouth and wisdom' which adversaries 'will not be able to resist or contradict' closely parallels the claim that Stephen's wisdom and spirit made his speech irresistible.
- Matthew 10:19–20 (thematic): Jesus teaches that the Spirit will speak through believers when they are defended before authorities, echoing the idea of Spirit‑given speech that opponents cannot successfully oppose.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4 (verbal): Paul contrasts human wisdom with 'speech and demonstration of the Spirit and of power,' resonating with Acts' language about wisdom and the Spirit by which authoritative speech is given.
Alternative generated candidates
- But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
- But they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
Acts.6.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- υπεβαλον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- ανδρας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- λεγοντας: VERB,part,pres,act,nom,m,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- Ακηκοαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- λαλουντος: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,masc
- ρηματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- βλασφημα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- εις: PREP
- Μωυσην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον·: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 6:13-14 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same episode: false witnesses bring charges that Stephen ‘spoke blasphemous words against Moses and God’ and add accusations about speaking against the temple and the law.
- Acts 7:57-60 (structural): Outcome of the false accusation against Stephen: the crowd stones him after his defense, showing the lethal consequences of such charges (connects accusation in 6:11 to martyrdom).
- Deuteronomy 19:16-19 (structural): Legal provision about handling false witnesses in Israel—principle that false testimony is a serious religious/legal offense, framing the gravity of the charges brought against Stephen.
- Leviticus 24:16 (thematic): Law prescribing death for one who blasphemes the Name of the LORD; provides the religious background that makes accusations of blasphemy especially serious in Jewish context.
- Matthew 26:59-61 (verbal): Sanhedrin-arranged false witnesses brought against Jesus alleging blasphemy; parallel in method and motive—religious leaders using false testimony to condemn a perceived blasphemer.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, 'We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.'
- Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
Acts.6.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- συνεκινησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τε: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λαον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- πρεσβυτερους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- γραμματεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επισταντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- συνηρπασαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ηγαγον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- συνεδριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
Parallels
- Acts 4:1-3 (verbal): Similar scene of church leaders being stirred up, the apostles seized by authorities and brought before the council (same sequence of arrest and delivery to the Sanhedrin).
- Acts 5:17-18 (thematic): High priest and his allies rise up against the apostles, seize them and imprison them—parallel theme of official hostility and arrest of believers.
- Luke 22:66-71 (allusion): Jesus is brought before the council and questioned—comparable motif of being seized and arraigned before the Jewish council.
- Mark 14:55-59 (thematic): Use of false witnesses against the accused; parallels the trumped-up accusations and false testimony brought against Stephen in the preceding verses.
- Acts 7:57-58 (structural): Immediate narrative sequel: Stephen is seized, dragged out of the city and stoned—continuation and fulfillment of the arrest and handing over to the coun cil described in 6:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- They stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes; they rushed upon him, seized him, and dragged him before the council.
- And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes; they rushed upon him, seized him, and brought him before the council.
Acts.6.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εστησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τε: CONJ
- μαρτυρας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- ψευδεις: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- λεγοντας·Ο: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- ανθρωπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- παυεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- λαλων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ρηματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- κατα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- τοπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αγιου: ADJ,gen,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- νομου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 14:57-58 (verbal): False witnesses are produced against Jesus, accusing him of speaking against the temple (claiming to destroy and rebuild it) — parallel motif of fabricated testimony about offenses against the holy place.
- Acts 21:28-29 (verbal): Accusers charge Paul that he 'teaches against the people, the law, and this place' — language and accusation closely echo the charge in Acts 6:13.
- 1 Kings 21:10 (thematic): False witnesses are set up against Naboth to accuse him and justify seizure of his property — similar use of fabricated testimony to impugn and remove an opponent.
- Psalm 35:11 (allusion): The psalmist laments 'malicious witnesses' rising up with false charges — provides the wider biblical motif of false testimony against the righteous found in Acts 6:13.
Alternative generated candidates
- They produced false witnesses who declared, 'This man does not cease to speak against this holy place and the law;
- They also produced false witnesses, who said, "This man does not cease to speak words against this holy place and the law."
Acts.6.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ακηκοαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- γαρ: PART
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- λεγοντος: PTCP,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ναζωραιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ουτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- καταλυσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- τοπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τουτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αλλαξει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εθη: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- παρεδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- Μωυσης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 14:58 (quotation): False witnesses at Jesus' trial accuse him of saying he would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days—verbal parallel to the charge that 'Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place.'
- John 2:19 (verbal): Jesus' saying 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up' provides the probable source or analogue for the alleged statement about destroying the place (understood in John as referring to his body).
- Acts 21:28 (verbal): A later accusation against Paul uses nearly identical language—that he teaches against the people, the law, and this place—showing the recurrent charge that Christian leaders undermine the temple and Mosaic customs.
- Matthew 5:17-18 (thematic): Jesus' teaching that he has come to fulfill (not abolish) the Law contrasts the charge that Christians seek to 'change the customs' handed down by Moses.
- Acts 7:48-50 (structural): In Stephen's defense he addresses the issue of the temple (God not dwelling in houses made with hands), directly responding to the charge that he sought to destroy the place and overturn Mosaic practice.
Alternative generated candidates
- for we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.'
- For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs which Moses handed down to us.
Acts.6.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ατενισαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- καθεζομενοι: VERB,pres,mp,part,nom,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- συνεδριω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- προσωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ωσει: ADV
- προσωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αγγελου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Exodus 34:29 (allusion): Moses' face 'shone' after encountering God; similar motif of a holy figure's radiant countenance causing perception of otherworldly glory.
- Acts 7:55-56 (structural): Continues the Stephen episode: after 6:15's note that his face looked like an angel's, Stephen in his speech sees heaven and the Son of Man — the radiance prefigures his visionary experience.
- Matthew 17:2 (thematic): At the Transfiguration Jesus' face becomes dazzling ('like the sun'), a parallel image of heavenly radiance used to mark divine or angelic presence.
- Daniel 10:6 (verbal): An angelic figure is described with a terrifying, luminous visage ('face like lightning'), paralleling biblical descriptions that associate supernatural beings with brilliant, radiant faces.
Alternative generated candidates
- All who sat in the council, fixing their eyes on him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
- And all who sat in the council, fixing their gaze on him, saw his face as if it were the face of an angel.
And Stephen, filled with grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Then some of those belonging to the synagogue called the Freedmen, and of Cyrene, and of Alexandria, and of Cilicia and Asia, stood up and disputed with Stephen. But they were unable to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
Then they secretly instigated men to bear false witness, saying, 'We heard him utter blasphemous words against Moses and God.' So the whole assembly rose up against him; they rushed upon him, seized him, and brought him before the council.
They set up false witnesses, who said, 'This man does not cease to speak words of blasphemy against this holy place and against the law.'
For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs which Moses handed down to us.
All who sat in the council, gazing intently at him, saw his face like the face of an angel.