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.
Parallel translations
- WEB He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
- BSB Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- NKJV Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- NASB Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.
- NLT He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Stephen knelt and prayed for his killers' forgiveness, then died. His Christlike love for his enemies displays the gospel's transforming power.
Overview
Stephen's final prayer for his murderers mirrors Jesus' prayer on the cross (Luke 23:34), showing the same spirit of forgiveness. That Scripture says he 'fell asleep' presents death for the believer as restful and hopeful, not final. His martyrdom would bear fruit, not least in the eventual conversion of Saul who stood by.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Matt 5:44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- Luke 23:34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
- 1 Cor 15:20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
- 1 Th 4:13–14But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
- Rom 12:14–21Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
- Acts 20:36And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
- Luke 6:28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
- Acts 9:40But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
- 1 Cor 15:18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
- Luke 22:41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
- Acts 21:5And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
- Acts 13:36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
- Dan 6:10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
- 1 Th 5:10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
- 1 Cor 15:6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
- Matt 27:52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
- Ezra 9:5And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,
- 1 Cor 11:30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
- 1 Cor 15:51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 7:60 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.