Acts 6:11

Suborned. Gr. hupoballo, “to put under.” The word was sometimes used for the act of employing, instigating, or instructing a secret agent. Compare RSV, “they secretly instigated.”

Blasphemous words. See on Matt. 12:31. The charge is made more explicit in Acts 6:13. The charge was built on a distortion of truth, as had been that against Jesus. Christ was accused of blasphemy (see on Matt. 26:65) because He called Himself the Son of God, made Himself equal with God (Matt. 26:63, 64; John 5:18), and allegedly threatened to “destroy the temple” (Matt. 26:61). Each of these counts in the indictment was constructed from words that Jesus had actually spoken. Stephen may have said things that seemed to give foundation for the accusations. He may have taught that the need for a temple had ceased (cf. Acts 7:48), even as Jesus had inferred in talking with the woman of Samaria (John 4:21). This would assail the very foundations of Judaism, and would naturally arouse strong opposition. In the face of such a teaching, Sadducees and Pharisees would unite in opposition. Punishment for blasphemy was death by stoning (Lev. 24:16).

Moses. That is, the systems that Moses instituted, as recorded in the Pentateuch. Note that Moses is mentioned before God. The legalists were more concerned with their ceremonies than with their God.