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Acts 7:59

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

And {G2532} they stoned {G3036} Stephen {G4736}, calling upon {G1941} God, and {G2532} saying {G3004}, Lord {G2962} Jesus {G2424}, receive {G1209} my {G3450} spirit {G4151}.

As they were stoning him, Stephen called out to God, “Lord Yeshua! Receive my spirit!”

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

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

Commentary

Acts 7:59 records the tragic yet triumphant moment of Stephen's death, marking him as the first Christian martyr. As he faced a violent mob, his final words reveal profound faith and a direct appeal to Jesus Christ.

Context

This verse concludes Stephen's powerful and provocative sermon before the Sanhedrin, recounted in Acts chapter 7. Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost, had just seen a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55-56), which his accusers interpreted as blasphemy. Enraged, they dragged him out of the city to stone him, a common form of execution for blasphemy under Jewish law. The presence of Saul (who would later become the apostle Paul) at this event, consenting to Stephen's death, is noted in Acts 8:1, highlighting the intense opposition faced by the early church.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Faithfulness Unto Death: Stephen's unwavering faith is evident as he faces a brutal death. His composure and focus on Christ serve as an enduring example of steadfast devotion, even in the face of extreme persecution.
  • The Deity of Jesus: Stephen's direct prayer, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," is a powerful affirmation of Jesus' divine nature. By committing his spirit to Jesus, Stephen treats Jesus as God, who has the authority and power to receive and sustain the souls of the departed. This echoes Jesus' own prayer on the cross (Luke 23:46) and is a significant testimony to early Christian belief in Christ's deity.
  • Echoes of Christ's Suffering: Stephen's martyrdom strikingly parallels that of Jesus. Both were falsely accused, faced unjust trials, and died by violence outside the city walls. Both prayed for their persecutors (Acts 7:60) and committed their spirits to God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "calling upon [God]" in the KJV has the word "God" in brackets, indicating it's supplied by the translators for clarity. The original Greek simply has "calling upon" (epikaleomenon), followed immediately by "Lord Jesus." This direct address to Jesus, without an intermediary, underscores Stephen's profound personal relationship with Christ and his belief in Jesus' ultimate authority. His cry, "receive my spirit," directly mirrors the words of Psalm 31:5, showing his rootedness in Old Testament scripture while applying it to Jesus.

Practical Application

Stephen's final moments offer profound lessons for believers today:

  • Courage in Witness: Stephen's example encourages believers to stand firm in their faith and witness, even when facing opposition or danger.
  • Trust in Christ: His prayer to Jesus provides comfort and assurance that in death, believers are received by the Lord. It reinforces the hope of eternal life and the promise that our spirits are safe in Christ's hands.
  • Forgiveness and Love: While not in this specific verse, Stephen's immediate subsequent prayer for his persecutors (Acts 7:60) demonstrates the transformative power of divine love, even in the face of extreme hatred.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 23:46 (7 votes)

    And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

  • Psalms 31:5 (6 votes)

    Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

  • Acts 22:16 (4 votes)

    And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

  • Joel 2:32 (3 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

  • Acts 2:21 (3 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:2 (3 votes)

    Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

  • Acts 9:14 (3 votes)

    And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.