Acts 7:60
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)
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Stephen’s final prayer for his persecutors is often seen as simply a parallel to Jesus' words on the cross. However, the specific phrasing "lay not this sin to their charge" carries the weighty implication of not counting it as a debt they owe, powerfully echoing Jesus' desire for their ultimate forgiveness rather than just a temporary reprieve. This choice highlights Stephen's profound understanding of the Christian call to forgive, even in the face of brutal death.
Stephen is being brutally stoned to death after boldly proclaiming God's truth. As the stones rain down, he first commends his spirit to Jesus and then, echoing Christ's own prayer on the cross, asks God not to hold this sin against his murderers. His death is depicted not as a tragic end, but as a peaceful "sleep," signifying his rest in God and hope of resurrection.
Stephen is being brutally murdered. What does he do? He prays for his attackers. This isn't just a nice thought; it's a radical act that echoes Jesus Himself.
Stephen's final words are a direct echo of Jesus' prayer from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Stephen, facing the same kind of violent opposition, prays, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Emulating the Master
This wasn't just a coincidence. It shows that Stephen, even in his final moments, was deeply aligned with Christ's heart and mission. The New Testament writers highlight this similarity, seeing it as proof of Stephen's profound connection to Jesus and the power of the Gospel to transform even in the face of death.
The Power of the Prayer
Some early Christian writers even suggested that Stephen's prayer was instrumental in the conversion of Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul), one of his chief persecutors. Whether or not that's directly provable, it underscores the immense spiritual power unleashed by such radical forgiveness.
The Bible describes Stephen's death not as an end, but as a 'sleep.' What does this profound imagery tell us about the Christian perspective on death?
The verse concludes with Stephen 'falling asleep.' This is a significant biblical metaphor for death, especially for believers.
More Than Just Poetic Language
Unlike some pagan cultures that viewed death as a terrifying void or simply an end, the biblical perspective, as seen in Stephen's case, frames it as a peaceful rest. This imagery is tied directly to the Christian hope of resurrection.
A Hopeful Transition
When Scripture speaks of believers 'falling asleep,' it points to:
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 final prayer for his persecutors, directly mirroring Jesus' prayer on the cross, highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the profound hope found in Christ, even in the face of violent death.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The pivotal events of Christian faith, including Jesus' prayer for His crucifiers, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' Stephen's final prayer echoes this sentiment.
c. 33 AD— this verse
Stephen's Trial and Stoning
Stephen, a deacon in the early church, is accused of blasphemy and stoned to death by a mob incited by religious leaders. This marks the first recorded martyrdom in Christian history.
c. 33 AD
Saul's Presence at Stephen's Martyrdom
Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee and future apostle, is present and consents to Stephen's death, guarding the cloaks of those who stoned him.
c. 33-36 AD
Persecution of the Jerusalem Church
Following Stephen's death, intense persecution breaks out against believers in Jerusalem, scattering them throughout Judea and Samaria.
This passage directly parallels Stephen's prayer, showing Christ's own dying words, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,' highlighting the profound selflessness and Christ-like spirit of Stephen.
Colossians 3:12-14Stephen's prayer for his persecutors exemplifies the command to clothe oneself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, and to bear with one another, forgiving anyone who complains, reflecting the core of Christian love even in suffering.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14The description of Stephen 'falling asleep' echoes the biblical language used for the peaceful death of believers, signifying not an end, but a rest in hope of resurrection, as believers await Christ's return.
Matthew 5:44Stephen's final prayer demonstrates the radical command Jesus gave His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, showing the practical outworking of this challenging teaching.
Hebrews 4:15Stephen, facing intense suffering, cried out to 'Lord Jesus' in his final moments, illustrating how believers can approach Jesus, their High Priest who sympathizes with their weaknesses, even in the face of death.
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 prayer for his persecutors is often seen as simply a parallel to Jesus' words on the cross. However, the specific phrasing "lay not this sin to their charge" carries the weighty implication of not counting it as a debt they owe, powerfully echoing Jesus' desire for their ultimate forgiveness rather than just a temporary reprieve. This choice highlights Stephen's profound understanding of the Christian call to forgive, even in the face of brutal death.
Stephen is being brutally stoned to death after boldly proclaiming God's truth. As the stones rain down, he first commends his spirit to Jesus and then, echoing Christ's own prayer on the cross, asks God not to hold this sin against his murderers. His death is depicted not as a tragic end, but as a peaceful "sleep," signifying his rest in God and hope of resurrection.
Stephen is being brutally stoned to death after boldly proclaiming God's truth. As the stones rain down, he first commends his spirit to Jesus and then, echoing Christ's own prayer on the cross, asks God not to hold this sin against his murderers. His death is depicted not as a tragic end, but as a peaceful "sleep," signifying his rest in God and hope of resurrection.
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c. 36 AD
Saul's Conversion
Saul encounters the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, leading to his dramatic conversion and subsequent role as the Apostle Paul.
"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 prayer for his persecutors is often seen as simply a parallel to Jesus' words on the cross. However, the specific phrasing "lay not this sin to their charge" carries the weighty impli…
