The New Testament writers used a variety of literary and grammatical devices to help guide the reader. Some of these devices were intended to attract attention to important information, while others served to push less-important information into the background. Some were used simply to grab your attention, alerting you that something important or surprising was about to happen.
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
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.
56 And he said, “Behold, I see Bullet the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.
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.
59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
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.
Runge, S. E. (2008–2014). The Lexham High Definition New Testament: ESV Edition (Ac 7:54–60). Lexham Press.
Faithlife Study Bible (FSB) is your guide to the ancient world of the Old and New Testaments, with study notes and articles that draw from a wide range of academic research. FSB helps you learn how to think about interpretation methods and issues so that you can gain a deeper understanding of the text.
7:54 they were infuriated Compare Acts 5:33.
7:55 Jesus standing at the right hand of God Stephen witnesses the risen Jesus at the right hand of the Father. The scene may allude to Dan 7:9–14, where the divine figure of the Son of Man
receives the kingdom from Yahweh (compare Luke 22:69; Acts 2:33–34).
7:57 crying out In response to what the religious leaders see as the height of blasphemy—exalting Jesus alongside God—the trial becomes a mob scene.
7:58 they began to stone him Death by stoning was the legal penalty for blaspheming the name of God (Lev 24:16).
Saul Luke (the narrator) introduces the man who will eventually lead the church’s mission to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people)—he is later called Paul (Acts 9; 13:9). In the meantime, he stands in approving witness of Stephen’s stoning.
7:59 receive my spirit This echoes Jesus’ words on the cross recorded by Luke (Luke 23:46).
7:60 he fell asleep A euphemism often used in the nt to describe the death of the faithful (e.g., Acts 13:36; 1 Cor 15:6, 51; 1 Thess 4:13–15).
The Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament surveys each book of the New Testament at several levels—Book, Division, Section, Pericope, Paragraph, and Unit—providing contextually appropriate commentary on each level. The reader of the commentary can easily ascertain the contextual importance of any larger section, or pericope, or even a particular verse of Scripture.
Stephen Is Stoned and the Church Is Persecuted (7:54–8:3)
This passage narrates the Israelites’ hostile response to Stephen’s speech at 7:52–53 and the subsequent persecution of the Jerusalem church. While Stephen shares outloud his prophetic vision with the crowd, they cover their ears and attack him (7:55–57). The mob stones Stephen outside the city while he prays (7:58–60). The outbreak of persecution causes believers to flee (8:1). While Stephen is buried, Saul pursues and imprisons believers (8:2–3).
Stephen the Martyr (7:54–60)
This paragraph shows what occurs after Stephen finishes his speech before the council, in which he accuses Israel of murder (7:51–53). It delineates the crowd’s rage (7:54), Stephen’s final visions of God’s glory and the exalted Jesus (7:55–56), the mob’s stoning of Stephen (7:57–58), and Stephen’s final prayer for himself and those who murder him (7:59–60).
7:54 This verse is the first reaction of the council to Stephen’s speech and indictment of the Israelites (7:51–53): they grind their teeth in anger.
7:55 Beginning with the word “but,” this verse contrasts the Jewish leaders’ disposition toward Stephen (7:54) and Stephen’s relationship to God: God’s Spirit fills Stephen, and he is given a vision of God’s glory and the exalted Jesus.
7:56 Stephen shares his vision (7:55) with the people: in the heavens he sees the exalted Jesus, whom he identifies as the “Son of Man” at God’s right hand.
7:57 The Israelites respond to Stephen’s vision (7:56): the people refuse to listen Stephen and, forming a unified mob, attack him.
7:58 The mob that attacked Stephen (7:57) stones him to death outside the city as Saul and others watch.
7:59 This verse reveals Stephen’s attitude and actions during his stoning (7:58): Stephen offers a prayer to the risen and exalted Jesus that he will accept his spirit.
7:60 This verse is the second part of Stephen’s prayer. He makes a very emotional appeal that Jesus pardon the mob’s sin of murder.
Mangum, D., ed. (2020). Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament (Ac 7:51–53). Lexham Press.
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