Acts 7:60 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.
Acts 7:60 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.
Acts 7:60 niv
Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:60 esv
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.
Acts 7:60 nlt
He fell to his knees, shouting, "Lord, don't charge them with this sin!" And with that, he died.
Acts 7 60 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 7:60 | And kneeling down, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” | Stephen's final prayer |
| Luke 23:34 | And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” | Jesus’ prayer on the cross |
| Matthew 5:44 | But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, | Jesus’ teaching on enemies |
| Romans 12:14 | Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. | Paul’s instruction on enemies |
| 1 Peter 2:21 | For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. | Christ's example of suffering |
| Genesis 50:17 | "As for me, I will send word, and you will say to him, ‘Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” | Joseph's forgiveness |
| 2 Kings 1:13 | So the king sent a third captain of fifty with his fifty. When the third captain of fifty went up, he knelt down before Elijah and pleaded with him, saying, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. | King’s captain’s plea |
| Proverbs 16:32 | Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. | Controlling anger |
| Ephesians 4:32 | Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, as God in Christ forgave you. | Forgiveness in Christ |
| Colossians 3:13 | bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. | Mutual forgiveness |
| 1 John 1:9 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. | God’s forgiveness |
| Psalm 130:4 | But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared. | Forgiveness and God’s fear |
| Acts 7:59 | And as they were stoning Stephen, he invoked [the Lord] saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” | Stephen's prior invocation |
| Hebrews 4:15 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. | Jesus as sympathetic priest |
| Hebrews 7:25 | Likewise, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. | Jesus’ intercession |
| Matthew 10:19-20 | When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. | Divine provision in trial |
| 1 Corinthians 15:17 | And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. | Importance of resurrection |
| Philippians 3:10 | that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, | Sharing in Christ’s sufferings |
| 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may also comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. | God of all comfort |
| Mark 11:25 | And whenever you stand to pray, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. | Conditions for prayer |
Acts 7 verses
Acts 7 60 Meaning
Stephen, as he was dying, prayed for his persecutors, asking Jesus to not hold Stephen's death against them. This profound act of forgiveness reflects the ultimate mercy and love found in Christ, even in the face of extreme suffering and injustice.
Acts 7 60 Context
This verse is the culmination of Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin, recorded in Acts chapter 7. Stephen has recounted the history of Israel, highlighting their persistent rejection of God and those whom God sent, culminating in the rejection and murder of the Righteous One, Jesus. The Jewish leaders, incensed by his words, respond with violent rage, seizing Stephen and dragging him out of the city to stone him. Stephen's prayer is uttered in his final moments of physical suffering and persecution, revealing the extraordinary grace and imitation of Christ in his heart.
Acts 7 60 Word analysis
- And (καὶ, kai): A common conjunction connecting phrases or clauses.
- kneeling (γονυπετῶν, gonypetōn): Present participle of gonypeteō, meaning "to fall on the knees" or "to kneel down." It signifies a posture of humility, prayer, and submission. This action is often associated with reverence and supplication before God.
- down (Implicit in the Greek verb, but reinforces the action of kneeling).
- he cried out (ἐβόησεν, eboēsen): Aorist indicative active of boaō, meaning "to shout" or "cry out." This indicates a loud, emphatic utterance, likely filled with emotion and urgency, given the circumstances.
- with a loud voice (φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, phōnēi megalēi): "with a voice great." This emphasizes the strength and clarity of his final words.
- Lord (Κύριε, Kyrie): The vocative case of Kyrios, meaning "Lord" or "Master." In this context, it is a direct address to Jesus.
- do not hold (μὴ ἐνέγκῃς, mē en’kengēs): The aorist subjunctive of the verb en’kō, which means "to bring upon," "to lay upon," or "to impute." The subjunctive mood, along with the negative particle "mē," expresses a plea or prohibition, meaning "may you not bring upon" or "may you not impute."
- them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Dative plural pronoun referring to the crowd stoning him.
- this sin (τὴν ἁμαρτίαν, tēn hamartian): "the sin." Specifically, the sin of stoning Stephen. The accusative case indicates the object of the verb "hold."
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "kneeling down, he cried out with a loud voice": This phrase depicts a dramatic scene of Stephen’s final moments. Kneeling shows his submission and humility before God, even as his body is being destroyed. Crying out with a loud voice emphasizes the sincerity and power of his prayer amidst the chaos of his stoning.
- “Lord, do not hold them this sin”: This is the core of Stephen’s prayer. He directly addresses Jesus as Lord and pleads for divine forgiveness on behalf of his executioners. This demonstrates incredible love and a profound understanding of Christ’s command to love one’s enemies and forgive. It echoes Jesus’ own prayer from the cross (Luke 23:34).
Acts 7 60 Bonus section
Stephen's prayer echoes a consistent theme throughout scripture: the importance of forgiveness. From Joseph forgiving his brothers to Jesus on the cross, the biblical narrative emphasizes that God’s mercy and our willingness to forgive are deeply interconnected. This act by Stephen, the first martyr of the church, sets a profound precedent for how Christians should respond to persecution. It underscores that overcoming evil with good, and hate with love, is the hallmark of true followers of Christ. His willingness to extend grace even in his final moments serves as a powerful inspiration for believers facing hardship and opposition.
Acts 7 60 Commentary
Stephen's dying words are a testament to the transformative power of Christ's love and the depth of his faith. Facing a brutal death, he doesn't curse his murderers but prays for their forgiveness. This act mirrors Jesus’ prayer for His crucifiers, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Stephen’s prayer reveals that true discipleship involves imitating Christ’s sacrificial love, even unto death. It highlights that forgiveness is not based on the actions of others but on the command of God and the grace available through Him. This prayer is a powerful demonstration that the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live and die with the same attitude of selfless love that Christ displayed. It is a pivotal moment showing the radical nature of the early Christian faith.