Acts 7:54–60

Stephen is Killed

7:54 When they heard these things, they became furious166 and ground their teeth167 at him. 7:55 But Stephen,168 full169 of the Holy Spirit, looked intently170 toward heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing171 at the right hand of God. 7:56 “Look!” he said.172 “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 7:57 But they covered their ears,173 shouting out with a loud voice, and rushed at him with one intent. 7:58 When174 they had driven him out of the city, they began to stone him,175 and the witnesses laid their cloaks176 at the feet of a young man named Saul. 7:59 They177 continued to stone Stephen while he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 7:60 Then he fell178 to his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”179 When180 he had said this, he died.181

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166	tn This verb, which also occurs in Acts 5:33, means “cut to the quick” or “deeply infuriated” (BDAG 235 s.v. διαπρίω).
167	tn Or “they gnashed their teeth.” This idiom is a picture of violent rage (BDAG 184 s.v. βρύχω). See also Ps 35:16.
168	tn Grk “he”; the referent (Stephen) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
169	tn Grk “being full,” but the participle ὑπάρχων (huparchōn) has not been translated since it would be redundant in English.
170	tn Grk “looking intently toward heaven, saw.” The participle ἀτενίσας (atenisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
171	sn The picture of Jesus standing (rather than seated) probably indicates his rising to receive his child. By announcing his vision, Stephen thoroughly offended his audience, who believed no one could share God’s place in heaven. The phrase is a variation on Ps 110:1.
172	tn Grk “And he said, ‘Look!’ ” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, καί (kai) has not been translated here; a new sentence is begun instead.
173	sn They covered their ears to avoid hearing what they considered to be blasphemy.
174	tn Grk “And when.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, καί (kai) has not been translated here; a new sentence is begun instead.
175	sn They began to stone him. The irony of the scene is that the people do exactly what the speech complains about in v. 52.
176	tn Or “outer garments.” sn Laid their cloaks. The outer garment, or cloak, was taken off and laid aside to leave the arms free (in this case for throwing stones).
177	tn Grk “And they.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, καί (kai) has not been translated here; a new sentence is begun instead.
178	tn Grk “Then falling to his knees he cried out.” The participle θείς (theis) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
179	sn The remarks Lord Jesus, receive my spirit and Lord, do not hold this sin against them recall statements Jesus made on the cross (Luke 23:34, 46).
180	tn Grk “And when.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, καί (kai) has not been translated here; a new sentence is begun instead.
181	tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaō) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for the death of a believer.

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