English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
54
At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective.
55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
55
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed - he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side.
56 And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
56
He said, "Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God's side!"
57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.
57
Yelling and hissing, the mob drowned him out. Now in full stampede,
58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
58
they dragged him out of town and pelted him with rocks. The ringleaders took off their coats and asked a young man named Saul to watch them.
59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
59
As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, "Master Jesus, take my life."
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.
60
Then he knelt down, praying loud enough for everyone to hear, "Master, don't blame them for this sin" - his last words. Then he died. Saul was right there, congratulating the killers.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.