Acts 6 · Verse 11

Acts 6:11

Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
Acts 6:11, King James Version

Acts 6:11 in other translations

BSBThen they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
WEBThen they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
ASVThen they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
YLTthen they suborned men, saying--‘We have heard him speaking evil sayings in regard to Moses and God.'
DARBYThen they suborned men, saying, We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.
BBEThen they got men to say, He has said evil against Moses and against God, in our hearing.
WebsterThen they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

What does Acts 6:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 6:11-14
11-14. blasphemous words against Moses--doubtless referring to the impending disappearance of the whole Mosaic system. and against God--This must refer to the supreme dignity and authority which he claimed for Christ, as the head of that new economy which was so speedily to supersede the old (compare Ac 7:56, 59, 60).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 11. Then they suborned men. To suborn in law, means to procure a person to take such a false oath as constitutes perjury.-- Webster. It has substantially this sense here. It means that they induced them to declare that which was false, or to bring a false accusation against him. This was done not by declaring a palpable and open falsehood, but by perverting his doctrines, and by stating their own inferences as what he had actually maintained--the common way in which men oppose doctrines from which they differ. The Syriac reads this place, "Then they sent certain men, and instructed them that they should say," etc. This was repeating an artifice which they practised so successfully in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ. See Mt 26:60,61.

We have heard, etc. When they alleged that they had heard this, is not said. Probably, however, in some of his discourses with the people, when he wrought miracles and wonders among them, Acts 6:8. Blasphemous words. Mt 9:3. Moses was regarded with profound reverence. His laws they regarded as unchangeable. Any intimation, therefore, that there was a greater lawgiver than he, or that his institutions were mere shadows and types, and were no longer binding, would be regarded as blasphemy, even though it should be spoken with the highest respect for Moses. That the Mosaic institutions were to be changed, and give place to another and better dispensation, all the Christian teachers would affirm; but this was not said with a design to blaspheme or revile Moses. In the view of the Jews, to say that was to speak blasphemy; and hence, instead of reporting what he actually did say, they accused him of saying what they regarded as blasphemy. If reports are made of what men say, their very words should be reported; and we should not report our inferences or impressions as what they actually said.

And against God. God was justly regarded by the Jews as the Giver of their law, and the Author of their institutions. But the Jews, either wilfully or involuntarily, not knowing that they were a shadow of good things to come, and were therefore to pass away, regarded all intimations of such a change as blasphemy against God. God had a right to change or abolish those ceremonial observances; and it was not blasphemy in Stephen to declare it.

(b) "suborned men" 1Kgs 21:10,13, Mt 26:59,60

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 Then they suborned men - Ὑπεβαλον. They made underhand work; got associated to themselves profligate persons, who for money would swear any thing. Blasphemous words against Moses, and against God - This was the most deadly charge they could bring against him. We have already seen, Mat 9:4, that blasphemy, when against God, signifies speaking impiously of his nature, attributes, or works; and, when against men, it signifies speaking injuriously of their character, blasting their reputation, etc. These false witnesses came to prove that he had blasphemed Moses by representing him as an impostor, or the like; and God, by either denying his being, his providence, the justice of his government, etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 6:8-15

When they could not answer Stephen's arguments as a disputant, they prosecuted him as a criminal, and brought false witnesses against him. And it is next to a miracle of providence, that no greater number of religious persons have been murdered in the world, by the way of perjury and pretence of law, when so many thousands hate them, who make no conscience of false oaths. Wisdom and holiness make a man's face to…

Read the full comment on Acts 6:8-15 →

Acts 6:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤότεToteThenG5119
ὑπέβαλονhupebalonthey subornedG5260
ἄνδραςandrasmenG435
λέγονταςlegontassayingG3004
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἀκηκόαμενakēkoamenWe have heardG191
αὐτοῦautouwhen heG846
λαλοῦντοςlalountosis speakingG2980
ῥήματαrhēmatadeclarationsG4487
βλάσφημαblasphēmablasphemousG989
εἰςeisagainstG1519
ΜωϋσῆνMōusēnMosesG3475
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸνton<the>G3588
θεόν·theonGod;G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 6:11

  • Matthew 26:59-60

    Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

  • 1 Kings 21:10-13

    And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.

  • Acts 18:6

    And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

  • Acts 15:21

    For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

  • Acts 21:28

    Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

  • Acts 21:20-22

    And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

  • 1 Timothy 1:13

    Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

  • Acts 25:3

    And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

  • John 5:45-47

    Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

  • Acts 25:7

    And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

  • Acts 24:1-13

    And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. …

  • Acts 23:12-15

    And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they.
23:12-15; 24:1-13; 25:3,7; 1Ki 21:10,13; Mt 26:59,60; 28:12-15
Joh 16:3; Ro 3:8
blasphemous.
13; 18:6; 26:11; Le 24:16; 1Ki 21:10-13; Joh 10:33-36; 1Ti 1:13
against Moses.
7:37-39; 15:21; 21:20-22,28; Joh 1:17; 5:45-47; 9:29; Heb 3:2-5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 6:10

    And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

  • Acts 6:11

    Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

  • Acts 6:12

    And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

Read all of Acts 6

Acts 6:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces sobornaron á unos que dijesen que le habían oído hablar palabras blasfemas contra Moisés y Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors ils subornèrent des hommes qui disaient: Nous l’avons entendu proférant des paroles blasphématoires contre Moïse et contre Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da schoben sie heimlich Männer vor, welche sagten: Wir haben ihn Lästerworte reden hören wider Moses und Gott.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc summiserunt viros, qui dicerent se audivisse eum dicentem verba blasphemiæ in Moysen et in Deum.