Bible Commentary

Acts 6:8-15

Matthew Henry on Acts 6:8-15

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

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.

Recommended reading

More for Acts 6:8-15

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

The Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:1-15Acts 6:1-15 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITIONThe Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:1-8Acts 6:1-8 · The Pulpit CommentaryWise counsels. The prosperity of the Church was great. The first hypocrisy had been plucked up by the roots and burnt, so to speak in the presence of the whole congregation. A holy awe had mingled with faith and love to…The Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:5-8Acts 6:5-8 · The Pulpit CommentaryStephen, the proto-martyr. Very little is known of his history. And, except for the sake of introducing Saul of Tarsus, and indicating the influence that Stephen's teachings and martyrdom exerted upon him, it is difficu…Stephen's AddressActs 6:8-15 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleSTEPHEN'S ADDRESS. Stephen, no doubt was diligent and faithful in the discharge of his office as distributor of the church's charity, and laid out himself to put that affair in a good method, which he did to universal s…The Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:8Acts 6:8 · The Pulpit CommentaryGrace for faith, A.V. and T.R.; wrought for did, A.V.; signs for miracle, A.V. Power (Acts 1:8, note); power to work miracles especially, but also other spiritual power beyond his own natural strength (see Acts 6:10). T…The Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:8-15Acts 6:8-15 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe service of the lip and the glory of the countenance. The wise step of appointing seven deacons "to serve tables," and thus to liberate the apostles for prayer and preaching, like other good causes, had results which…
commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:1-15EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:1-8Wise counsels. The prosperity of the Church was great. The first hypocrisy had been plucked up by the roots and burnt, so to speak in the presence of the whole congregation. A holy awe had mingled with faith and love to…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:5-8Stephen, the proto-martyr. Very little is known of his history. And, except for the sake of introducing Saul of Tarsus, and indicating the influence that Stephen's teachings and martyrdom exerted upon him, it is difficu…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryStephen's AddressSTEPHEN'S ADDRESS. Stephen, no doubt was diligent and faithful in the discharge of his office as distributor of the church's charity, and laid out himself to put that affair in a good method, which he did to universal s…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:8-15Stephen before the council. The conflict between the spirit of Judaism and the Spirit of Christ. Show the importance of this conflict in the early Church, lasting for more than a whole generation, lingering into the sec…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:8-15The service of the lip and the glory of the countenance. The wise step of appointing seven deacons "to serve tables," and thus to liberate the apostles for prayer and preaching, like other good causes, had results which…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:8-15Stephen's work and witness. I. HIS SPIRIT DESCRIBED. "Full of grace and power." We can feel rather than define the force of those words. Grace is first the favor of God felt in the man's soul, then manifested in his who…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Acts 6:8Grace for faith, A.V. and T.R.; wrought for did, A.V.; signs for miracle, A.V. Power (Acts 1:8, note); power to work miracles especially, but also other spiritual power beyond his own natural strength (see Acts 6:10). T…Joseph S. Exell and contributors