Suborn
Definition and Biblical Usage
The word "suborn" translates the Greek word "hupoballo," meaning to introduce secretly, to put forward by collusion, or to employ someone covertly to act under false pretenses. In its only New Testament occurrence (Acts 6:11), it describes the deceptive practice of secretly instructing individuals to make false accusations. The term carries strong connotations of deliberate deception and orchestrated injustice.
The Suborning of Witnesses Against Stephen
The context of this word is the opposition that arose against Stephen, one of the seven deacons chosen by the early church (Acts 6:5). Stephen, described as "full of grace and power," was performing great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8). When members of certain synagogues debated with him, they "could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking" (Acts 6:10). Unable to defeat Stephen through honest argument, they resorted to suborning men to make false claims that he had spoken blasphemy against Moses and God (Acts 6:11).
A Pattern of False Witness in Scripture
The suborning of witnesses against Stephen follows a pattern seen throughout Scripture. The ninth commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16), explicitly forbids this practice. King Ahab and Jezebel suborned false witnesses against Naboth to seize his vineyard (1 Kings 21:10-13). False witnesses were sought against Jesus at His trial before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:59-60). In each case, the use of false testimony reveals the moral bankruptcy of those who cannot achieve their aims through truth.
Stephen's Martyrdom
The suborned testimony against Stephen led to his being brought before the Sanhedrin, where his accusers claimed he spoke against the temple and the law (Acts 6:13-14). Stephen responded with a masterful speech reviewing Israel's history and culminating in a bold accusation that his listeners were resisting the Holy Spirit just as their fathers had done (Acts 7:51). Enraged, the crowd dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death, making Stephen the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58-60). His final words echoed those of Jesus: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:60).
The Failure of Falsehood
The practice of suborning witnesses, while temporarily effective in silencing Stephen, ultimately failed to suppress the gospel. Stephen's death scattered the believers from Jerusalem, spreading the message of Jesus across Judea, Samaria, and beyond (Acts 8:1-4). Among those who witnessed Stephen's execution was Saul of Tarsus, who would later become the apostle Paul (Acts 7:58). The very act of injustice that was meant to destroy the church became a catalyst for its expansion.
Biblical Context
The word 'suborn' appears in Acts 6:11, describing the secret instigation of false witnesses against Stephen. This act of deception led to Stephen's trial before the Sanhedrin and his subsequent martyrdom, the first recorded death of a Christian for the faith. The practice connects to the broader biblical prohibition against false witness in Exodus 20:16.
Theological Significance
Suborning reveals the desperation of those who oppose God's truth but cannot overcome it through legitimate means. It demonstrates that human deception cannot ultimately defeat divine purposes. Stephen's death, brought about by suborned testimony, paradoxically advanced the gospel rather than silencing it, illustrating the principle that God works through suffering and injustice to accomplish His redemptive purposes.
Historical Background
Suborning witnesses was a recognized legal crime in both Jewish and Roman law. Under Jewish law, false witnesses were to receive the punishment they sought to impose on the accused (Deuteronomy 19:16-19). In Roman law, the practice of suborning testimony was likewise condemned. The Greco-Roman world of the first century saw frequent use of such tactics in political and religious disputes. The Greek term 'hupoballo' was used in secular contexts for secretly putting ideas into someone's mind.