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)
Stephen’s final, selfless prayer doesn’t just mirror Christ’s, but actively fixes the sin of his murderers, not counting it against them in God's ledger. This incredible act of forgiveness, delivered "with a loud voice" while still under attack, highlights how the Christian faith enables radical love even at the point of death.
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)
Stephen is being stoned to death by a mob, led by Saul, after a powerful speech accusing them of always resisting the Holy Spirit. Just before he dies, echoing Jesus' own prayer from the cross, Stephen falls to his knees and asks God not to hold their sin against his murderers. This prayer, a profound act of forgiveness amidst brutal violence, marks the end of his earthly life and his witness.
As the stones rained down, Stephen's final words mirrored Jesus' own prayer from the cross. What does this tell us about his heart and the power of Christ's example?
Stephen’s dying prayer is a breathtaking echo of Jesus’ words from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Stephen prays, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
This isn't a coincidence. It shows Stephen was deeply transformed by Christ’s spirit, truly embodying the command to love enemies and pray for persecutors. This profound act of forgiveness, even in the face of brutal violence, highlights the revolutionary nature of the Gospel. It’s a testament to the grace that enables believers to rise above vengeance, reflecting the very heart of God.
The Bible describes Stephen’s death not as an end, but as a peaceful sleep. What does this unique phrasing reveal about the Christian perspective on death?
When Luke writes that Stephen, “when he had said this, he fell asleep,” he uses a profound metaphor. In the ancient world, death was often seen as a terrifying void. But for believers, death is different.
This ‘sleep’ signifies several things:
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Understand the original words
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
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.
Stephen's dying prayer directly echoes Jesus' prayer from the cross, highlighting the profound influence of Christ's example and demonstrating the incredible grace and forgiveness empowered by the Holy Spirit, even for murderers. This act of radical love is understood by many early Christians as being instrumental in the conversion of Saul, who was present at Stephen's stoning.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and resurrected, forming the core event of Christian belief and the foundation for the early Church's witness.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Prayer for Forgiveness
During his crucifixion, Jesus prays, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," setting a powerful example for his followers.
c. AD 31-34
Stephen's Ministry and Accusation
Stephen, one of Jesus' early followers, performs miracles and preaches boldly but is falsely accused of blasphemy against Moses and the Law.
c. AD 31-34— this verse
Stephen's Trial and Stoning
Stephen is brought before the Sanhedrin, delivers a powerful defense of his faith, and is then dragged out of the city and stoned to death by a mob, with Saul of Tarsus present.
c. AD 34
Saul's Persecution of the Church
Following Stephen's martyrdom, Saul actively persecutes the early Christian church, entering houses and arresting believers.
c. AD 35-36
Saul's Conversion
Saul encounters the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus, leading to his dramatic conversion and future role as the Apostle Paul.
This passage directly parallels Stephen's prayer, showing the profound Christ-like spirit of forgiveness Stephen displayed even in the face of death, echoing Jesus' own prayer for His crucifiers.
John 11:11Jesus used the metaphor of sleep to describe death when speaking of Lazarus, a concept that Christian thought, particularly regarding the resurrection, adopted and expanded upon, as seen in the description of Stephen's death.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14This passage describes believers who have died as 'asleep in Jesus,' reinforcing the biblical idea of death as a peaceful rest for the righteous, a contrast to the often violent imagery of death.
Colossians 3:3Stephen's prayer shows a deep faith that his life was 'hidden with Christ in God,' trusting in Christ's ultimate preservation of his spirit even as his earthly life was ending.
Hebrews 4:15Stephen, facing intense suffering, was able to approach Jesus, 'our great high priest,' with his final prayer, demonstrating the access and comfort believers have through Christ in times of trial.
ellicottActs 7:60: "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
(60) Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. —Here again we cannot help finding proof, not only that the mind of Stephen was after the mind of Christ, but that the narrative of the Crucifixion, as recorded by St. Luke, was, in some measure, known to him. The resemblance to the prayer of Christ, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (…
barnesActs 7:60: "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
And he kneeled down - This seems to have been a "voluntary" kneeling; a placing himself in this position for the purpose of "prayer," choosing to die in this attitude. Lord - That is, Lord Jesus. See the notes on Acts 1:24. Lay not ... - Forgive them. This passage strikingly resembles the dying prayer of the Lord Jesus, Luke 23:34. Nothing but the Chr…
Stephen’s final, selfless prayer doesn’t just mirror Christ’s, but actively fixes the sin of his murderers, not counting it against them in God's ledger. This incredible act of forgiveness, delivered "with a loud voice" while still under attack, highlights how the Christian faith enables radical love even at the point of death.
Stephen is being stoned to death by a mob, led by Saul, after a powerful speech accusing them of always resisting the Holy Spirit. Just before he dies, echoing Jesus' own prayer from the cross, Stephen falls to his knees and asks God not to hold their sin against his murderers. This prayer, a profound act of forgiveness amidst brutal violence, marks the end of his earthly life and his witness.
Stephen is being stoned to death by a mob, led by Saul, after a powerful speech accusing them of always resisting the Holy Spirit. Just before he dies, echoing Jesus' own prayer from the cross, Stephen falls to his knees and asks God not to hold their sin against his murderers. This prayer, a profound act of forgiveness amidst brutal violence, marks the end of his earthly life and his witness.
"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." — Stephen’s final, selfless prayer doesn’t just mirror Christ’s, but actively fixes the sin of his murderers, not counting it against them in God's ledger. This incredible act of forgiveness, deliver…
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Last reviewed October 2026