Acts 6 verse 15

Acts 6:15

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.    (KJV)

And looking intently at him, all those seating themselves in the sanhedrin saw his face as if it were the face of an angel.    (IB)    

---------------------------------

Retranslation: Everyone that shared the “customs” of Moses, sat, immovable, completely satisfied, in association and companionship, and gazed intently at Stephen, the God-crowned; and these had knowledge that Stephen was a messenger of Jesus Christ.

-----------------------------------

NOTE:

1. I chose to retranslate “saw his face as if the face of an angel” because these men are not in a frame of mind to receive the Holy Ghost. To say they saw him as an “angel” suggests they received the message from the angelic messenger. In the end, they kill him, suggesting they did not understand him, i.e. they did not “receive” his message; nor did God reveal Herself directly to them. If God had revealed Herself, they would have experienced the divine and have been filled with love, divine love, and would have loved Stephen, and realized they were brothers, both Stephen and themselves being greatly beloved of God. They would have understood God a little better, having experienced the divine, and Stephen’s words would have rung true. They would have dropped their “beliefs” about God, having experienced the power and glory of God, and become pastors or messengers, like Stephen.

-------------------------------------------

looking (intently, stedfastly) 816 atenzio, from a compound of G1 (as a particle of union) and teino (to stretch); to gaze intently:---------behold earnestly (steadfastly), fasten (eyes), look (earnestly, steadfastly, up steadfastly), set eyes.

at 1519 

him 846

all 537 hapas, from G1 (as a particle of union) and 3956; absolutely all or (singular) every one:-----all (things), every (one), whole.

sitting 2516 kathezomai, from 2596 and the base of 1476; to sit down:----sit.

2596 kata, a primary particle; (preposition) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case [genitive, dative or accusative] with which it is joined). In compounds it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution or intensity:----about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) alone, among, and, apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to, touching), aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, [charita-]bly, concerning, covered, [dai-]ly, down, every, ( + far more) exceeding, more excellent, for, from . . . to, godly, in (divers, every, respect of), inasmuch, into, . . . by, after the manner of, by any means, beyond (out of) measure, mightily, more, natural, of, on (part), upon, out (of every), over against, (+ your) own, particularly, so through, throughout (every), thus, to, unto, together, toward, uttermost, where, whereby, with.

1476 hedraios, from a derivative of hezomai (to sit); sedentary, i.e. (by implication) immovable:-----settled, stedfast.

in 1722 en, a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); “in,” at, on, upon, by, etc. Often used in compounds with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (ellipitically) by a separate (and different) preposition:-----about, after, against, almost, altogether, among, as, at, before, between, by here by (+ all means), for (. . .sake of), give self wholly to, in, herein, into, inwardly, mightily, (because) of, on, upon, -ly (e.g. openly, speedily), outwardly, one, quickly, shortly, that, there, therein, thereon, through, throughout, to, unto, toward, under, when where, wherewith, while, with, within.

sanhedrin 4892 synedrion, neuter of a presumed derivative of a compound of 4862 and the base of 1476; a joint session, i.e. (specifically) the Jewish Sanhedrin; by analogy a subordinate tribunal:------council.

4862 syn, a primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much closer than 3326 or 3844), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc. In compounds it has similar applications, including completeness:----beside, with.

          

1476 hedraios, from a derivative of hezomai (to sit); sedentary, i.e. (by implication) immovable:-----settled, stedfast.

saw 1492 eido, a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly to see (lit. or fig.); by implication (in the perfect only) to know:------be aware, behold, can (+ not tell), consider, know, have knowledge, look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.

3700 optanomai, a (middle) prolonged form of the primary (middle) optomai which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as an alternate of 3708; to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from 991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from 1492, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while 2300, and still more emphatically its intensive 2334, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and 4648 a watching from a distance):---look, see, shew self, appear.

3708 horao; properly to stare at [compare 3700], i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); by extension to attend to; by Hebrew to experience; passive to appear:----behold, perceive, see, take heed.

face 4383 prosopon, from 4314 and ops (the visage; from 3700); the front (as being towards view), i.e. the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication presence, person:----countenance, face, presence, before, fashion, (men’s) person, (outward) appearance.

as if 5616 hosei, from 5613 and 1487; as if:---- like (as), as (it had been, it were), about.

face 4383 (see above)

angel 32 angelos, from angello [probably derived from 71; compare 43] (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication a pastor:-----angel, messenger.