Acts 7:60 Meaning: Stephen's Dying Prayer for His Enemies
He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
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.
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.
and having bowed the knees, he cried with a loud voice, `Lord, mayest thou not lay to them this sin;' and this having said, he fell asleep.
And kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And having said this, he fell asleep.
Meaning in one sentence
Stephen's final words echo Jesus' prayer for forgiveness. His peaceful death, described as sleep, reveals the Christian hope of resurrection.
Context
Stephen had just finished a long speech to the Jewish council, telling the story of Israel and how they had resisted God. They were furious. They dragged him outside the city and began to throw stones at him. In his last moments, Stephen did two things. He called out to Jesus to receive his spirit, then he knelt down and prayed that God would not hold this sin against the people killing him. When he finished, the text says he fell asleep. This is a remarkable death, the first one recorded after Jesus rose from the dead. Stephen shows what it looks like to follow Jesus all the way, even when it costs everything.
Key Words
Two words in this verse carry more weight than they first show. The verb behind "lay not this sin to their charge" in Greek is stēsēs, from histēmi, which means to place, set, or establish. Stephen is asking God not to fix this sin permanently against them, not to let it stand as a charge. It is the same word you might use for setting a stone in place. He wants God to leave that stone unsettled.
The word for "he fell asleep" is ekoimēthē, from koimaō. It is the same word Jesus used for Lazarus: "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep" (John 11:11). Early Christians chose this word on purpose. Sleep is not the end. You go to sleep expecting to wake up. Stephen's body died, but his death was a sleep, because he would wake again. The resurrection of Jesus made sure of that.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen Stephen as a faithful follower of Jesus in his death. His prayer for his murderers echoes Jesus' words from the cross in Luke 23:34. Many commentators, such as Calvin and Matthew Henry, point out that Stephen shows how the command to love your enemies is not an impossible ideal, it is possible because of the Holy Spirit working in us. The phrase "he fell asleep" has been understood by all traditions as a peaceful way to describe death, highlighting the Christian hope that death is not the final word. Some have also noted that Saul, who stood by holding the coats, may have been one of the people Stephen prayed for. That prayer may have been part of what prepared Saul to become Paul.
A common misunderstanding
Some people read that Stephen "fell asleep" and think the Bible is saying death is just like a nap, temporary and not a big deal. But that misses the real point. The Bible does not make light of death. Stephen was being killed with stones, and that was terrible. The word "sleep" is not about denying the pain of death. It is about what comes after. Early Christians used this word because they believed Jesus rose from the dead and would raise those who belong to him. Stephen died, but he would wake up. That is the hope, not a dismissal of his suffering.
Living This Out
This week, you might face someone who has hurt you badly. It might be a family member, a coworker, or someone at church. Stephen's example does not ask you to pretend the hurt is nothing. It asks you to do something harder. Before he died, while the stones were still flying, he asked God to forgive them. You do not have to do it perfectly, or even all at once. But you can start by saying quietly, even under your breath, "Lord, do not hold this against them." That is a prayer God hears. And Stephen's sleep reminds you that this life is not the whole story. Whatever you face, there is waking on the other side.
Main takeaway: Stephen shows that following Jesus means forgiving our enemies and trusting that death is only a sleep before resurrection.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Stephen was being hurt by some people, but instead of being angry, he asked God to forgive them. Then he died, and the Bible says he fell asleep. That means he went to be with Jesus, and one day he will wake up again.
For ages 9, 12
Stephen's death teaches two big things. First, he forgave the people who were killing him, just like Jesus did on the cross. That shows us how much God's love can change a person. Second, the Bible calls his death "sleep" because Christians believe that when you belong to Jesus, death is not the end. Your body rests like sleep, and one day you will wake up to live with God forever.
Questions People Ask
What does 'fell asleep' mean in Acts 7:60?
It is a way of describing death that emphasizes peace and the hope of resurrection. Early Christians used this word because they believed that just as you wake up from sleep, believers will be raised from the dead. Stephen's death was violent, but the way he died was peaceful because he trusted Jesus.
Why did Stephen kneel down before he died?
Kneeling was a posture of prayer and humility. Stephen had been standing during his speech, but now he chose to kneel, showing that he was submitting to God even in his final moments. It was a deliberate act of worship and surrender, like Jesus kneeling in the garden of Gethsemane.
Did Stephen's prayer for forgiveness actually help anyone?
Many Christians believe it did. A young man named Saul was standing nearby, approving of the stoning (Acts 7:58). Later, Saul became the apostle Paul. Some early church writers, like Augustine, suggested that Stephen's prayer may have been part of what God used to bring Paul to faith.
How is Stephen's death like Jesus' death?
Both men were executed unjustly. Both prayed for their murderers while dying. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing' (Luke 23:34). Stephen said, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' Stephen was copying his Master, showing that the Spirit had made him like Jesus.
Is it always right to pray for forgiveness for someone who hurts you?
Jesus commanded his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). Stephen obeyed that command even in the most extreme situation. This does not mean you pretend the hurt did not happen, but it means you trust God with justice and ask him to extend mercy.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study