Acts 6:13 Meaning and Explanation
“And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →False witnesses are produced who accuse Stephen of ceaselessly speaking against the temple and the law.
What Does Acts 6:13 Mean?
The coached accusation now hardens into formal testimony before the council: false witnesses claim Stephen never stops speaking against 'this holy place' — the temple — and against the law. The scene mirrors the trial of Jesus, where false witnesses likewise testified about the temple (Matthew 26:59-61; Mark 14:56-58).
False witness usually works by twisting rather than inventing. Stephen, like his Lord, surely taught that God's purposes were larger than the temple (Acts 7:48), and that truth is bent here into a crime. There is sober irony in it: the ninth commandment is broken in supposed defense of the law (Exodus 20:16). Zeal for holy things, unguided by truth and charity, ends by fighting the God it claims to honor.
Acts 6:13 in the Original Language
martys (μάρτυς), 'witness' -- one who testifies; the word from which martyr later came.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 6:13
What does Acts 6:13 mean?
False witnesses are produced who accuse Stephen of ceaselessly speaking against the temple and the law.