Acts 7:59

Modern

While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Traditional

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Literal

And as they were stoning Stephen, he was calling out and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Latin

Et lapidabant Stephanum invocantem, et dicentem: Domine Jesu, suscipe spiritum meum.

Greek

English

While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Stephen’s prayer, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them," is very similar to the prayer Jesus prayed when he was on the cross (Luke 23:34). Jesus taught his followers the importance of forgiveness and prayer (Matthew 6:14–15; Mark 11:25; see Luke 11:4; 17:3–4; Luke 11:5–10; 18:1–8; see also Acts 1:12–15; 4:23–31; 12:5; James 5:16–18). The Lord gave a positive answer to Stephen’s prayer as it relates to Saul (Acts 9:1–43).

Theme notes and profiles

Luke 23:46
Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
Psalm 31:5
Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.
Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
Joel 2:32
And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD.
1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
Acts 2:21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Acts 9:14
And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”
Romans 10:12–14
For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,
Acts 9:21
All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

Jesus: The Son of God and Savior of the world Stephen: One of seven deacons, full of faith, performed miracles, martyred