Page 264 - Demo

7:58 This marks the rst appearance of Saul, who will soon be converted, becoming the apostle Paul. He is complicit in the martyrdom of Stephen—he keeps watch over the cloaks of those who stone Stephen to death.
The stoning of Stephen by Domenichino (1581-1641) and Annibale Carraci (1560-1609)
7:60 Stephen’s last words echo those of Jesus. Jesus commends his spirit into God’s hands (Luke 23:46); Stephen commends his soul to Jesus (7:59). Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34); Stephen also dies forgiving his murderers: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (7:60). Stephen is called the “protomartyr,” because he was the rst to die for his belief in Christ. His death marks a shift: the persecution of this new movement grows so severe that the believers are scattered to the countryside—and they carry the Gospel with them.
CHAPTER 7
o. [7:55–56] Mt 26:64; Mk 14:62; Lk 22:69; Acts 2:34.
p. [7:58] 22:20.
q. [7:59] Ps 31:6; Lk 23:46.
r. [7:60] Mt 27:46, 50; Mk 15:34;
Lk 23:46.
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THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 
Stephen’s Martyrdom. 54When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. 55o But he, lled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,* 56and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,* and rushed upon him together. 58They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.p 59As they were stoning Stephen,q he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”* 60Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”; and when he said this, he fell asleep.r
..* [7:55] He. . .saw. . .Jesus standing at the right hand of God: Stephen a rms to the Sanhedrin that the prophecy Jesus made before them has been ful lled (Mk 14:62).
* [7:57] Covered their ears: Stephen’s declaration, like that of Jesus, is a scandal to the court, which regards it as blasphemy.
* [7:59] Compare Lk 23:34, 46.