13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
13 and they set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,
13 They put forward their bribed witnesses to testify: "This man talks nonstop against this Holy Place and God's Law.
13 They also set up false witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;
13 The lying witnesses said, "This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses.
14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs
14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us."
14 We even heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would tear this place down and throw out all the customs Moses gave us."
14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us."
14 We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us."
(Read 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 shine, yet will not secure men from being treated badly. What shall we say of man, a rational being, yet attempting to uphold a religious system by false witness and murder! And this has been done in numberless instances. But the blame rests not so much upon the understanding, as upon the heart of a fallen creature, which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Yet the servant of the Lord, possessing a clear conscience, cheerful hope, and Divine consolations, may smile in the midst of danger and death.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 6:13
Commentary on Acts 6:8-15
(Read 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 shine, yet will not secure men from being treated badly. What shall we say of man, a rational being, yet attempting to uphold a religious system by false witness and murder! And this has been done in numberless instances. But the blame rests not so much upon the understanding, as upon the heart of a fallen creature, which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Yet the servant of the Lord, possessing a clear conscience, cheerful hope, and Divine consolations, may smile in the midst of danger and death.