Acts 7:59

59 So they stoned Stephen, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Acts 7:59 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 7:59

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God
As he was praying, and putting up the following petition;

and saying, Lord Jesus receive my Spirit;
from whence we learn, that the spirit or soul of man sleeps not, nor dies with the body, but remains after death; that Jesus Christ is a fit person to commit and commend the care of the soul unto immediately upon its separation; and that he must be truly and properly God; not only because he is equal to such a charge, which none but God is, but because divine worship and adoration are here given him. This is so glaring a proof of prayer being made unto him, that some Socinians, perceiving the force of it, would read the word Jesus in the genitive case, thus; "Lord of Jesus receive my Spirit": as if the prayer was made to the Father of Christ, when it is Jesus he saw standing at the right hand of God, whom he invokes, and who is so frequently called Lord Jesus; whereas the Father is never called the Lord of Jesus; and besides, these words are used in like manner in the vocative case, in ( Revelation 22:20 ) to which may be added, that the Syriac version reads, "our Lord Jesus"; and the Ethiopic version, "my Lord Jesus".

Acts 7:59 In-Context

57 Upon this, with a loud outcry they stopped their ears, rushed upon Stephen in a body,

58 dragged him out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called Saul.

59 So they stoned Stephen, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

60 Then, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep.