Stephen was accused of blaspheming Moses and God. In blaspheming Moses, he was being accused of either rejecting the authority of the Torah1 or the traditions attributed to Moses. Since Moses was God’s prophet, speaking against him is ultimately speaking against God.2 At the time of the New Testament, blaspheming God referred to any violation of the power and majesty of God.3 In this case it likely had to do with something that Stephen had said in relation to the temple (Acts 6:14). Both of these accusations are very serious. If Stephen was found guilty, he could be killed under Mosaic law (see Leviticus 24:11–16).
11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”