Acts 6:13
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
The charge belongs to the trial of Stephen before the council, where hired witnesses accused him of unceasingly speaking against the temple and the law by saying Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the holy place and change the customs delivered by Moses.
The priests and rulers brought him there from bitter hatred because they could not withstand his wisdom and Spirit, and they pressed the accusation in imposing form with learned opponents and Saul taking a leading part against him.
The testimony was false and furnished only a pretext for condemnation, for no true violation of the law could be fastened upon him, just as the case against Christ rested on falsehood.
The need to hire false witnesses is decisive proof that Christ and His followers did not break the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, since one proven transgression would have placed them in the power of their enemies without need for lies.
Even unreliable accusations can prevail with unsanctified hearts that wish them true, as Saul was persuaded the blasphemy charge was true and joined in condemning Stephen on false testimony.
Stephen's Trial and Accusation
Acts 6:13 belongs to the trial of Stephen, who was learned in the prophecies and the law and boldly defended his faith, while his opponents could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. The priests and rulers were filled with bitter hatred after witnessing the power attending his ministry, and they refused to yield to the weight of evidence he presented. Though they opposed him vehemently, they prevailed nothing against his clear, calm wisdom.
Rather than yield, they determined to silence his voice by putting him to death. They determined to make an example of him to satisfy their revengeful hatred and to keep others through fear from adopting his belief. The charges against him were brought in a most imposing manner for that purpose.
They were confident they could try, condemn, and execute prisoners according to their national custom without danger to themselves, because on several occasions they had bribed the Roman authorities to overlook the Jews taking the law into their own hands. Determined to risk the consequences at all events, they seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin council for trial. Learned Jews from surrounding countries were summoned to refute the arguments of the accused, and Saul, already distinguished as a zealous opponent of the doctrine of Christ and a persecutor of all who believed in Him, was present and took a leading part against Stephen. He brought the weight of eloquence and rabbinic logic to convince the people that Stephen was preaching delusive and dangerous doctrines.
They set up hired false witnesses who testified that they had heard him speak blasphemous words against the temple, the holy place, and the law, saying that he ceased not to speak against them. The witnesses claimed they had heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the place and change the customs which Moses had delivered. Thus his testimony about Jesus was presented as a threat to the temple and to the customs Moses had given. The charge was part of the hostile response to his preaching, to his reproof of unbelieving leaders, and to priests accepting Jesus.
Lessons From False Testimony
The witnesses set up against Stephen were hired and false, charging him with speaking against the holy place or temple and the law because no true violation of the law could be fastened upon him, and their charge supplied only a pretext for his condemnation. Like the arguments made against Christ, the arguments made against him rested on falsehood. If Sabbath breaking could have been proved against Christ or Stephen or others who died for their faith, their enemies would have used that real transgression to condemn them instead of relying on false testimony, and would not have needed to suborn false witnesses to furnish a pretext. One proven transgression would have placed Christians in the power of their enemies. The need to resort to false testimony is decisive proof that Christ and His apostles did not violate the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Their carefulness to show the utmost respect even for customs and ceremonies of minor importance shows how seriously they regarded the Sabbath, and it would have been impossible for them to violate it without suffering the severest penalty.
Even weak and unreliable accusations could influence people whose hearts were unsanctified and who wanted the accusations to be true. Saul was persuaded by the priests' and rulers' arguments that the blasphemy accusation against Stephen was true. He was persuaded that Jesus was an impostor and that the religious leaders were right. On that false testimony he took part in Stephen's trial and conviction as a blasphemer.