Acts 6:9 Meaning and Explanation
“Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Members of a synagogue of freedmen, with Jews from North Africa and Asia Minor, rise up to dispute with Stephen.
What Does Acts 6:9 Mean?
Opposition comes first not from the temple authorities but from Greek-speaking Jews like Stephen himself: a synagogue of freedmen, joined by men of Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia — Jews of the dispersion now settled in Jerusalem. Saul of Tarsus was from Cilicia (Acts 22:3), and he will step into this very story soon after (Acts 7:58).
Stephen carried the gospel into his own community, and his own community pushed back hardest. Faithfulness does not exempt a disciple from controversy; it often draws it. Yet the dispute itself shows the word at work — Stephen neither avoided the synagogue nor softened the message, and Christ was preached exactly where it cost the most.
Acts 6:9 in the Original Language
Libertinoi (Λιβερτῖνοι), 'Libertines' -- freedmen; former slaves or their descendants.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 6:9
What does Acts 6:9 mean?
Members of a synagogue of freedmen, with Jews from North Africa and Asia Minor, rise up to dispute with Stephen.