Acts 6:13

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

Complete Jewish Bible:

There they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the Torah;

Berean Standard Bible:

where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

American Standard Version:

and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G5037} set up^{G2476} false^{G5571} witnesses^{G3144}, which said^{G3004}, This^{G5127} man^{G444} ceaseth^{G3973} not^{G3756} to speak^{G2980} blasphemous^{G989} words^{G4487} against^{G2596} this^{G3778} holy^{G40} place^{G5117}, and^{G2532} the law^{G3551}:

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Commentary for Acts 6:13

Acts 6:13 is a verse set within the early Christian community's growth and the challenges it faced in Jerusalem. The historical context is the period following Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, when the apostles were actively preaching the Gospel. The verse is part of a narrative describing the tension between the burgeoning Christian movement and the established Jewish religious authorities.

In this verse, false witnesses are brought forward to accuse Stephen, one of the seven deacons chosen to serve the Hellenistic Jewish widows in the daily distribution of food. These accusations are twofold: first, that Stephen has been speaking against the Temple in Jerusalem, which was considered the sacred dwelling place of God and the center of Jewish religious life; second, that he has been speaking against the Law of Moses, which was the foundation of Jewish religious practice and identity.

The themes present in this verse include religious authority and tradition versus the emerging Christian teachings, the potential for conflict when established norms are challenged, and the gravity of blasphemy in a religious society. The accusations against Stephen reflect the deep divide between the traditional Jewish leaders and the Christian converts who were proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah and interpreting Jewish law and tradition in new ways. This sets the stage for the broader persecution of early Christians and Stephen's subsequent martyrdom, which is a pivotal moment in the Acts of the Apostles, signifying the spread of Christianity beyond the Jewish community in Jerusalem.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G5037
   There are 192 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τέ
   Transliteration: té
   Pronunciation: teh
   Description: a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of καί):--also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter participle.
   
2. Strong's Number: G2476
   There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἵστημι
   Transliteration: hístēmi
   Pronunciation: stah'-o
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively):--abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare τίθημι.
   
3. Strong's Number: G5571
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ψευδής
   Transliteration: pseudḗs
   Pronunciation: psyoo-dace'
   Description: from ψεύδομαι; untrue, i.e. erroneous, deceitful, wicked:--false, liar.
   
4. Strong's Number: G3144
   There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: μάρτυς
   Transliteration: mártys
   Pronunciation: mar'-toos
   Description: of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a "martyr":-- martyr, record, witness.
   
5. Strong's Number: G3004
   There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: λέγω
   Transliteration: légō
   Pronunciation: leg'-o
   Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.
   
6. Strong's Number: G5127
   There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τούτου
   Transliteration: toútou
   Pronunciation: too'-too
   Description: genitive case singular masculine or neuter of οὗτος; of (from or concerning) this (person or thing):--here(-by), him, it, + such manner of, that, thence(-forth), thereabout, this, thus.
   
7. Strong's Number: G444
   There are 614 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἄνθρωπος
   Transliteration: ánthrōpos
   Pronunciation: anth'-ro-pos
   Description: from ἀνήρ and (the countenance; from ὀπτάνομαι); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man.
   
8. Strong's Number: G3973
   There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: παύω
   Transliteration: paúō
   Pronunciation: pow'-o
   Description: a primary verb ("pause"); to stop (transitively or intransitively), i.e. restrain, quit, desist, come to an end:--cease, leave, refrain.
   
9. Strong's Number: G3756
   There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: οὐ
   Transliteration: ou
   Pronunciation: ookh
   Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος.
   
10. Strong's Number: G2980
    There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: λαλέω
    Transliteration: laléō
    Pronunciation: lal-eh'-o
    Description: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare λέγω.
    
11. Strong's Number: G989
    There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: βλάσφημος
    Transliteration: blásphēmos
    Pronunciation: blas'-fay-mos
    Description: from a derivative of βλάπτω and φήμη; scurrilious, i.e. calumnious (against men), or (specially) impious (against God):--blasphemer(-mous), railing.
    
12. Strong's Number: G4487
    There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ῥῆμα
    Transliteration: rhēma
    Pronunciation: hray'-mah
    Description: from ῥέω; an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative naught whatever:--+ evil, + nothing, saying, word.
    
13. Strong's Number: G2596
    There are 436 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: κατά
    Transliteration: katá
    Pronunciation: kat-ah'
    Description: a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from … to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), … by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.
    
14. Strong's Number: G3778
    There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὗτος
    Transliteration: hoûtos
    Pronunciation: how'-tahee
    Description: from the article ὁ and αὐτός; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):--he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who.
    
15. Strong's Number: G40
    There are 1382 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἅγιος
    Transliteration: hágios
    Pronunciation: hag'-ee-os
    Description: from (an awful thing) (compare ἁγνός, θάλπω); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint.
    
16. Strong's Number: G5117
    There are 88 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τόπος
    Transliteration: tópos
    Pronunciation: top'-os
    Description: apparently a primary word; a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas χώρα is a large but participle locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard:--coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where.
    
17. Strong's Number: G2532
    There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: καί
    Transliteration: kaí
    Pronunciation: kahee
    Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
    
18. Strong's Number: G3551
    There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: νόμος
    Transliteration: nómos
    Pronunciation: nom'-os
    Description: from a primary (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.