Acts 7:59-60
And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
In the midst of his brutal stoning, Stephen's gaze isn't on his pain, but upward. He's not just calling out to a God, but specifically to "Lord Jesus," an explicit prayer for his spirit at the very moment of death, mirroring Jesus' own prayer to the Father. This act reveals Stephen's deep conviction of Jesus' divine nature and his personal relationship with Him, even in his final breath.
Stephen's martyrdom is reaching its climax; he has just delivered a powerful sermon recounting Israel's history and condemning his accusers. As the angry crowd drags him out of the city to stone him, Stephen sees a vision of Jesus standing at God's right hand. In his final moments, facing brutal violence, Stephen calls out to Jesus, entrusting his spirit into His care.
In his final moments, facing brutal violence, Stephen cries out to Jesus. What does this reveal about who Jesus is?
Stephen’s final words are a profound act of worship directed to Jesus. The historical commentaries highlight that the word 'God' is often an English addition to the text for clarity, and the original Greek clearly indicates Stephen is calling upon Jesus.
An Act of Worship
Divine Identity Affirmed
As stones rain down on him, Stephen’s last prayer isn't for himself, but for his attackers. How is this possible?
Stephen's death is not just about his faith in Jesus, but also about his radical love for those killing him. He demonstrates a depth of character forged by the Spirit, even in the face of horrific violence.
The Prayer for His Killers
Understand the original words
Kyrios · Greek Noun
The divine name or title signifying sovereign authority, lordship, and possession. When applied to Jesus, it affirms His identity as the Messiah and God Incarnate, worthy of worship and total devotion.
pneuma · Greek Noun
The immaterial part of a human being that survives death and continues in the presence of God; it refers to the life-force or the core of the person that is ultimately entrusted to the Creator.
hamartia · Greek Noun
An offense, transgression, or missing of the mark against the moral law of God. It separates humanity from God and requires divine forgiveness or a substitutionary sacrifice for atonement.
koimaō · Greek Verb
Stephen's final moments reveal his unwavering faith in Christ's divinity and power, even as he faced a brutal death. His prayer echoes Jesus' own words on the cross and shows that early Christians saw Jesus as God, to whom they could entrust their very spirits.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The foundational events of Christianity, establishing Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah, and the basis for the early church's faith and witness.
c. 33 AD
Pentecost and the Birth of the Church
The coming of the Holy Spirit empowered the apostles, leading to the rapid spread of the gospel and the formation of the early Christian community in Jerusalem.
c. 33-35 AD
Early Ministry of the Apostles in Jerusalem
The apostles, including Peter and John, continued to teach and perform miracles in Jerusalem, facing increasing opposition from Jewish authorities.
c. 35 AD
Appointment of Seven Deacons
As the church grew, Hellenistic Jewish believers complained about unequal distribution of aid. Seven men, including Stephen, were appointed to oversee this ministry, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and teaching.
This passage echoes Jesus' own prayer as He was dying, commending His spirit to the Father, showing Stephen followed His Lord's example in his final moments.
John 20:28Thomas' direct address to Jesus as 'My Lord and my God!' parallels Stephen's invocation, highlighting the early church's understanding of Jesus' divinity.
Romans 10:9This verse speaks of confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in Him, which aligns with Stephen's ultimate act of faith and worship in his dying breath.
1 Thessalonians 4:14The idea of Jesus receiving believers to Himself, especially in death, is a comfort found here, which Stephen clearly grasped as he asked Jesus to receive his spirit.
Acts 22:16Ananias' instruction to Saul to 'wash away your sins, calling on his name' shows that calling on Jesus' name in prayer, even for salvation, was a recognized practice.
ellicottActs 7:59: "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
(59) Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. —The words are memorable as an instance of direct prayer addressed, to use the words of Pliny in reporting what he had learned of the worship of Christians, “to Christ as God” ( Epist x. 97). Stephen could not think of Him whom he saw at the right hand of God, but as of One sharing the glory of the Father, hearing and answering prayer. And in the prayer itself w…
barnesActs 7:59: "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Calling upon God - The word God is not in the original, and should not have been in the translation. It is in none of the ancient mss. or versions. It should have been rendered, "They stoned Stephen, invoking, or calling upon, and saying, Lord Jesus," etc. That is, he was engaged "in prayer" to the Lord Jesus. The word is used to express "prayer" in the following, among other places: 2 Corinthians…
In the midst of his brutal stoning, Stephen's gaze isn't on his pain, but upward. He's not just calling out to a God, but specifically to "Lord Jesus," an explicit prayer for his spirit at the very moment of death, mirroring Jesus' own prayer to the Father. This act reveals Stephen's deep conviction of Jesus' divine nature and his personal relationship with Him, even in his final breath.
Stephen's martyrdom is reaching its climax; he has just delivered a powerful sermon recounting Israel's history and condemning his accusers. As the angry crowd drags him out of the city to stone him, Stephen sees a vision of Jesus standing at God's right hand. In his final moments, facing brutal violence, Stephen calls out to Jesus, entrusting his spirit into His care.
Stephen's martyrdom is reaching its climax; he has just delivered a powerful sermon recounting Israel's history and condemning his accusers. As the angry crowd drags him out of the city to stone him, Stephen sees a vision of Jesus standing at God's right hand. In his final moments, facing brutal violence, Stephen calls out to Jesus, entrusting his spirit into His care.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Acts 7:59-60 is available in the Sola app.
The Fruit of Stephen's Prayer
Stephen’s eyes were fixed on something beyond the stones and the rage. What did he see, and how did it sustain him?
The narrative emphasizes that Stephen was 'full of the Holy Spirit' (Acts 7:55) and saw a vision of heaven at the moment of his death. This vision profoundly shaped his final words and actions.
Sustained by the Vision
Jesus Standing, Not Seated
A common biblical euphemism for the death of a believer. It implies that death is a temporary state of rest from which the body will eventually be awakened in the resurrection.
c. 35 AD
Stephen's Ministry and Sermon
Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, performed great wonders and debated with Hellenistic Jews. He was eventually arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin to answer charges of blasphemy.
c. 35 AD— this verse
Stoning of Stephen
Stephen delivered a powerful sermon recounting Israel's history and accusing the Sanhedrin of resisting the Holy Spirit, just as their ancestors had. The crowd, enraged, dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death.
c. 35 AD
Saul's Persecution of the Church
Saul, a young man who guarded the clothes of Stephen's executioners, became a leading persecutor of the early church, breathing threats against the believers.
"And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep." — In the midst of his brutal stoning, Stephen's gaze isn't on his pain, but upward. He's not just calling out to a God, but specifically to "Lord Jesus," an explicit prayer for his spirit at the very…
