but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
Parallel translations
- WEB They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
- KJV And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
- NKJV And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
- NASB But they were unable to cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
- NLT None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They cannot withstand the wisdom and Spirit by which Stephen speaks. The Spirit gives irresistible wisdom to Christ's witnesses.
Overview
Stephen's effectiveness fulfills Jesus' promise that the Spirit would give His followers words their opponents could not contradict. The failure of his opponents in honest debate exposes the weakness of their position. Their next move to deceit shows that truth defeated drives men to falsehood.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Luke 21:15For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
- Matt 10:19–20But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.
- 1 Cor 2:4My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
- John 7:46“Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.
- Luke 12:11–12When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
- Job 32:8But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
- Exod 4:12Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
- Luke 1:17And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
- Ezek 3:27But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ Whoever listens, let him listen; and whoever refuses, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.
- Acts 7:51You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
- Job 32:18For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.
- Acts 5:39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
- Jer 15:20Then I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save and deliver you, declares the LORD.
- Mic 3:8As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
- Jer 1:18–19Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
- Isa 54:17No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 6:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.