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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
- Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
- 1 Cor 15:20But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
- 1 Th 4:13–14But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
- Rom 12:14–21Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
- Acts 20:36When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
- Luke 6:28bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
- Acts 9:40Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
- 1 Cor 15:18Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
- Luke 22:41He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed,
- Acts 21:5When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.
- Acts 13:36For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.
- Dan 6:10When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.
- 1 Th 5:10who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
- 1 Cor 15:6Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
- Matt 27:52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
- Ezra 9:5At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God;
- 1 Cor 11:30For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
- 1 Cor 15:51Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will 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
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