Bible Strands
Acts 7:59
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Stephen speaks to the Lord Jesus while being stoned outside the city, immediately after the execution witnesses laid their garments at Saul’s feet.
The words — The Greek ἐπικαλοῦμενον (epikaloumenon) means “calling out upon,” and κύριε (kurie) translates directly to “Lord,” capturing his urgent appeal amid the violence.
The thread — This appeal echoes Jesus’ final words in Luke 23:46 and the psalmist’s trust in Psalm 31:5, while Acts 22:16 later connects calling on the Lord’s name to baptism and forgiveness.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that death does not sever communion with Christ, requiring the reader to place their final breath in the same trust without romanticizing the martyrdom.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Cross-references
- Luke 23:46 Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
- Psalms 31:5 Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.
- Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
- Joel 2:32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD.
- Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
- Acts 9:14 And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
- Acts 9:21 All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
- Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,