The question is really a rather simple one:
Does Acts 7:59 suggest Stephen prayed to Jesus?
The definition of the word "pray" is --- "to implore, beseech, entreat, supplicate; to ask very earnestly." It is an act of communication. It is the creature addressing the Creator God or His representative whom He has made lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36). This raises a vital question --- Did Stephen address himself to the lord Jesus that day? I believe he did. After all, the disciples of Jesus Christ firmly believed him to be the son of God and that God had made him upon his resurrection both lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36). And there is no question that Stephen addressed himself to his ascended Savior. Thus, by definition, Stephen prayed.
The problem for some, however, lies in the fact that he clearly addressed himself to Jesus, which certain disciples feel a Christian is not permitted to do. We must pray only to the Father, and never to His son .... or, so we are told by those who embrace this position. It seems, however, that Stephen was unaware of this restriction.
Some have argued that the common Greek word for prayer is not employed in this passage, and thus Stephen did not technically pray to anyone that day .... and certainly not to Jesus. He just "called upon" Jesus, or implored or entreated or supplicated Him, but he did not "pray" to Him. Yes, we can get technical, if we like, but the fact is clearly stated in the text that Stephen addressed himself to Jesus, regardless of how one chooses to characterize the exact nature of that address to the risen lord!. If it makes one feel better to believe that this does not constitute "official prayer," then so be it. But, again, prayer, by definition, is a man communicating with the son of God --- and that is exactly what Stephen did that day. The one to whom he addressed himself was clearly the risen Savior, the son of God and not the Father.
The KJV, interestingly enough, has confused this issue somewhat by adding to the text of Acts 7:59. It reads, "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon GOD, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." The word "God" is NOT in the biblical text. It is an unwarranted addition by mere men. Note the comment of Adam Clarke in his commentary on the book of Acts: "The word 'God' is not found in any MS or version, nor in any of the primitive fathers except Chrysostom. It is not genuine, and should not be inserted here" (volume 5, page 735). It is clearly an addition to the text, and misleads the reader. There is absolutely NO authority for such a flagrant addition to Acts 7:59, and such is inexcusable. It surprises me that more people aren't rising to condemn the KJV for clearly ADDING to God's Word in this passage. After all, the defenders of the KJV quickly condemn other translations, calling them "perversions," for less than this --- why not be consistent, and do the same with the KJV?
Some have argued that the common Greek word for prayer is not employed in this passage, and thus Stephen did not technically pray to anyone that day .... and certainly not to Jesus. He just "called upon" Jesus, or implored or entreated or supplicated Him, but he did not "pray" to Him. Yes, we can get technical, if we like, but the fact is clearly stated in the text that Stephen addressed himself to Jesus, regardless of how one chooses to characterize the exact nature of that address to the risen lord!. If it makes one feel better to believe that this does not constitute "official prayer," then so be it. But, again, prayer, by definition, is a man communicating with the son of God --- and that is exactly what Stephen did that day. The one to whom he addressed himself was clearly the risen Savior, the son of God and not the Father.
The KJV, interestingly enough, has confused this issue somewhat by adding to the text of Acts 7:59. It reads, "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon GOD, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." The word "God" is NOT in the biblical text. It is an unwarranted addition by mere men. Note the comment of Adam Clarke in his commentary on the book of Acts: "The word 'God' is not found in any MS or version, nor in any of the primitive fathers except Chrysostom. It is not genuine, and should not be inserted here" (volume 5, page 735). It is clearly an addition to the text, and misleads the reader. There is absolutely NO authority for such a flagrant addition to Acts 7:59, and such is inexcusable. It surprises me that more people aren't rising to condemn the KJV for clearly ADDING to God's Word in this passage. After all, the defenders of the KJV quickly condemn other translations, calling them "perversions," for less than this --- why not be consistent, and do the same with the KJV?
Some have suggested that the NIV has just as flagrantly added the word "prayed" to the text of Acts 7:59. The word so translated by the NIV translators is"epikaleomai" which literally means "to call upon." Although not the common word in Greek for "prayer," it was/is understood to be an acceptable synonym. It is a "calling upon" or an "appeal to divinity or one divinely appointed," and Acts 7:59 is given as an example of this usage.
Although the wording may be somewhat different (due to the emphasis upon the nature of the appeal), nevertheless this is still a case of a man appealing to or calling upon son of God, Jesus --- and by definition that is "prayer." This has been clearly understood by reputable scholars for centuries, as even cursory research will quickly reveal.
In Kittel's massive and classic Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, for example, he writes: "Often in the NT the believer calls on God or Christ, or the name of God or Christ Jesus, in prayer" --- and Kittel gives Acts 7:59 as an example of this "calling upon" Jesus in "prayer" (volume 3, page 497). On page 500 he further remarks, "The directing of prayer to Jesus is a mark of faith in the Messiah." The Greek "epikaleomai" is clearly understood by the best Greek scholars to be synonymous with the concept of "prayer." And, further, Acts 7:59 is viewed as a perfect example of a man "calling upon" in prayer God's anointed one Christ Jesus. Thus, the NIV was perfectly within its rights, according to accepted Greek usage, to translate this word as "prayer."
It should also be pointed out that the NIV does not stand alone with this translation of "epikaleomai" as "prayer." Many other translations do the same. Note just a few examples:
New International Version --- "While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
New American Bible --- "As Stephen was being stoned he could be heard praying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
Revised Standard Version --- "And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
Williams Translation --- "They continued stoning Stephen as he continued praying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
Lamsa's Translation from the Aramaic of the Peshitta --- "And they stoned Stephen as he prayed, saying, Our Lord Jesus, accept my spirit."
Living Bible --- "And as the murderous stones came hurtling at him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
The Message --- "As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, 'Master Jesus, take my life.'"
More examples could be given, but these few illustrate that numerous translations understood the Greek word "epikaleomai" to be a reference to "prayer." Such an understanding is completely consistent with the meaning and usage of this word.
Not only was/is this the understanding of Greek scholars and biblical translators, but it was/is also the understanding of many highly respected biblical commentators as well. Adam Clarke wrote: "Here is a most manifest proof that prayer is offered to Jesus Christ" (Clarke's Commentary, volume 5, page 735). Herbert Lockyer, in his book All The Prayers of the Bible, listed this particular prayer of Stephen. He then commented, "Praying to the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit, he re-echoed the Master's last prayer on the Cross" (page 232).
"Whereas Jesus commended his spirit to the Father, Stephen commended his to Jesus. This is surely an early, if tacit, testimony to the Christian belief in our lord's lordship given to him of God" (Acts 2:36). "And having prayed thus, says Luke, 'he fell asleep.'" Dr. William Carver, in his book The Acts of the Apostles, declares "...he prayed" (page 78). Dr. Adam Adcock, in Acts Analyzed, writes: "Just before Stephen 'fell asleep,' he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit'" (page 84).
Even within our own fellowship in Christendom, and especially among those often considered among the "greats" of the Restoration Movement, we find this view that Stephen indeed prayed .... and that his prayer was directed unto Jesus.
In Kittel's massive and classic Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, for example, he writes: "Often in the NT the believer calls on God or Christ, or the name of God or Christ Jesus, in prayer" --- and Kittel gives Acts 7:59 as an example of this "calling upon" Jesus in "prayer" (volume 3, page 497). On page 500 he further remarks, "The directing of prayer to Jesus is a mark of faith in the Messiah." The Greek "epikaleomai" is clearly understood by the best Greek scholars to be synonymous with the concept of "prayer." And, further, Acts 7:59 is viewed as a perfect example of a man "calling upon" in prayer God's anointed one Christ Jesus. Thus, the NIV was perfectly within its rights, according to accepted Greek usage, to translate this word as "prayer."
It should also be pointed out that the NIV does not stand alone with this translation of "epikaleomai" as "prayer." Many other translations do the same. Note just a few examples:
New International Version --- "While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
New American Bible --- "As Stephen was being stoned he could be heard praying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
Revised Standard Version --- "And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
Williams Translation --- "They continued stoning Stephen as he continued praying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
Lamsa's Translation from the Aramaic of the Peshitta --- "And they stoned Stephen as he prayed, saying, Our Lord Jesus, accept my spirit."
Living Bible --- "And as the murderous stones came hurtling at him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
The Message --- "As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, 'Master Jesus, take my life.'"
More examples could be given, but these few illustrate that numerous translations understood the Greek word "epikaleomai" to be a reference to "prayer." Such an understanding is completely consistent with the meaning and usage of this word.
Not only was/is this the understanding of Greek scholars and biblical translators, but it was/is also the understanding of many highly respected biblical commentators as well. Adam Clarke wrote: "Here is a most manifest proof that prayer is offered to Jesus Christ" (Clarke's Commentary, volume 5, page 735). Herbert Lockyer, in his book All The Prayers of the Bible, listed this particular prayer of Stephen. He then commented, "Praying to the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit, he re-echoed the Master's last prayer on the Cross" (page 232).
"Whereas Jesus commended his spirit to the Father, Stephen commended his to Jesus. This is surely an early, if tacit, testimony to the Christian belief in our lord's lordship given to him of God" (Acts 2:36). "And having prayed thus, says Luke, 'he fell asleep.'" Dr. William Carver, in his book The Acts of the Apostles, declares "...he prayed" (page 78). Dr. Adam Adcock, in Acts Analyzed, writes: "Just before Stephen 'fell asleep,' he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit'" (page 84).
Even within our own fellowship in Christendom, and especially among those often considered among the "greats" of the Restoration Movement, we find this view that Stephen indeed prayed .... and that his prayer was directed unto Jesus.
H. Leo Boles, in his commentary on the book of Acts (published by Gospel Advocate), writes: "As Stephen prayed, he was stoned" (page 119). On the next page he declared: "Stephen's prayer was made to Jesus to receive his spirit." David Lipscomb, in his work Acts of the Apostles, stated: "They stoned Stephen, Stephen praying and saying: 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit'" (page 87).
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