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

ACTS 6:11KJV
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Acts 6:11 (KJV)

What does Acts 6:11 mean?

Acts 6:11 describes how certain people secretly persuaded others to falsely accuse Stephen of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God. This verse shows the beginning of a plot to discredit Stephen by spreading lies about what he had said.

In the context of Acts 6, Stephen is one of the early Christian leaders in Jerusalem, and his wisdom and spirit have drawn attention from opponents. The verse explains that these opponents could not win their arguments with Stephen, so they arranged for men to claim they had heard him speak against the Jewish law (represented by Moses) and against God himself. This accusation sets the stage for Stephen’s later arrest and trial.

The Greek behind Acts 6:11

  • The word "suborned" (ὑπέβαλον, hypébalon) means to secretly instruct or bribe someone to give false testimony. This highlights that the accusations against Stephen were not honest but deliberately fabricated.
  • "Blasphemous" (βλάσφημα, blasphēma) refers to speech that insults or shows disrespect toward something considered sacred. Here, it emphasizes the seriousness of the charge, as blasphemy against Moses and God was a grave offense in Jewish society.
  • "Words" (ῥήματα, rhēmata) is a Greek term for spoken statements or sayings, underlining that the accusation was about what Stephen was claimed to have said, not what he had done.

Why Acts 6:11 matters

  • Acts 6:11 clarifies that the charges against Stephen were not based on truth but on a deliberate scheme, which is important for understanding the injustice of his later trial and execution.
  • The verse connects to a pattern seen earlier in Acts, where opposition to the early Christian movement often involved false accusations and manipulation rather than open debate.
  • This verse helps explain why Stephen’s speech in the following chapters focuses so much on Israel’s history and the law, as he is responding to these specific charges about Moses and God.

Where else these words appear

“blasphemous” Greek G989 · used in 5 verses

  • Acts 6:13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
  • 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.
  • 2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

“words” Greek G4487 · used in 67 verses

  • Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
  • Luke 18:34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
  • Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

“Moses” Greek G3475 · used in 79 verses

  • Matthew 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
  • John 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
  • Acts 21:21 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.