Discovery BoxActs 6:13 
Context6:13 They brought forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop saying things against this holy place 1 and the law. 2
Acts 13:6
Context13:6 When they had crossed over 3 the whole island as far as Paphos, 4 they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 5
1 sn This holy place is a reference to the temple.
2 sn The law refers to the law of Moses. It elaborates the nature of the blasphemy in v. 11. To speak against God’s law in Torah was to blaspheme God (Deut 28:15-19). On the Jewish view of false witnesses, see Exod 19:16-18; 20:16; m. Sanhedrin 3.6; 5.1-5. Stephen’s speech in Acts 7 may indicate why the temple was mentioned.
3 tn Or “had passed through,” “had traveled through.”
4 sn Paphos. A city on the southwestern coast of the island of Cyprus. It was the seat of the Roman proconsul.
5 sn Named Bar-Jesus. “Jesus” is the Latin form of the name “Joshua.” The Aramaic “bar” means “son of,” so this man was surnamed “son of Joshua.” The scene depicts the conflict between Judaism and the emerging new faith at a cosmic level, much like the Simon Magus incident in Acts 8:9-24. Paul’s ministry looks like Philip’s and Peter’s here.
