They
stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:59-60
Acts 7 [54.] Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Acts 7 [57.] But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8 [1.] Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him. But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison. Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. There was great joy in that city.
Meaning:
The council and the crowd rushed at Stephen, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, while the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul (Acts 7:57-58). These verses record Stephen’s last words and his death. They are among the most moving lines in Acts, because Stephen dies as his Lord died.
- “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
As Jesus died on the cross he prayed, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46), words from Psalm 31:5: “Into your hand I commend my spirit.” Stephen prays in the same way, but he addresses his prayer to the Lord Jesus. He had just seen Jesus standing at God’s right hand (Acts 7:56), and now he entrusts himself to him. This is a remarkable confession: Stephen speaks to Jesus as one who receives the spirits of the dying, as Jesus had spoken to his Father. It shows how the earliest believers prayed to Jesus as Lord.
- “He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice”
Kneeling is a posture of humble prayer. Stephen’s loud cry was not a cry of anger but of intercession, spoken so that all could hear.
- “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!”
Again Stephen follows Jesus, who prayed for those who crucified him, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Stephen did not deny that his killers were sinning; he called it “this sin.” But he asked the Lord not to count it against them. This is the love Jesus taught: “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Compare the dying words of the priest Zechariah, stoned in the temple court, who said, “May Yahweh look at it, and repay it” (2 Chronicles 24:22). Stephen’s prayer shows the new spirit of the gospel.
- “When he had said this, he fell asleep”
Luke describes a violent death with a gentle word. The New Testament often calls the death of believers “sleep,” because it is not the end. Jesus said of Lazarus, “Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep” (John 11:11). Paul comforts the church concerning “those who have fallen asleep,” for “God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Christians understand in different ways what the soul experiences between death and resurrection, but all share the hope that those who die in Christ are safe with him and will rise.
The Significance of Acts 7:59-60
- An answered prayer?
Among those who heard Stephen’s prayer was Saul, who “was consenting to his death” (Acts 8:1). Saul later met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and became the apostle Paul. He never forgot Stephen: “When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death” (Acts 22:20). Many have seen in Paul’s conversion an answer to Stephen’s prayer.
- Dying well and forgiving freely
Stephen shows how a follower of Jesus can face death: trusting Christ with his spirit and forgiving those who wronged him. Few will die as martyrs, but every believer is called to the same trust and the same forgiving love.
- Following in Jesus’ steps
Peter wrote that Christ left “an example, that you should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Stephen’s death mirrors his Lord’s and shows what the life of Christ looks like in a disciple.
Cross-References:
Luke 23:34: "Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing." Jesus’ prayer for his executioners.
Psalm 31:5: "Into your hand I commend my spirit." The psalm of trust behind Stephen’s words.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: "God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus." The hope of those who sleep in Christ.
Conclusion: As the stones fell, Stephen entrusted his spirit to the Lord Jesus and prayed with a loud voice that his killers would not be held guilty of this sin, and then he fell asleep. His death mirrored the death of Jesus in trust and in forgiveness. The passage shows the hope of believers in death and calls every disciple to forgive as Christ forgave.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible