CAN WE PRAY TO THE LORD JESUS

Note: Acts 7:59: As Stephen was facing imminent death, he called on the lord Jesus to receive his spirit. Some might argue that this was an extreme case or that Stephen was inspired. But if we do what inspired men did in serving God, how can we be wrong? Stephen prayed to Jesus in this account".

The question is really a rather simple one: Does Acts 7:59 suggest Stephen prayed to Jesus? The definition of the word "prayer" is to implore, beseech, entreat, supplicate; to ask very earnestly. It is an act of communication between a man/woman and God - Yehovah or His son Jesus. There is no question that Stephen addressed himself to the ascended Saviour whom God had declared was both lord and Messiah. [Acts 2:36] Thus, by definition, Stephen prayed.

The problem for some disciples, lies in the fact that he clearly addressed himself to Jesus, which these disciples feel is not permitted. They say we should only pray to the Father, and never to the Son. It seems 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 did not "pray" to him. We get the technical implication, 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.

The KJV 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 unwanted 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.

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 the lord Jesus," and Acts 7:59 is given as an example of this usage (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, page 294). Although the wording may be somewhat different (due to the emphasis upon the nature of the appeal), nevertheless this is still a case of men/women appealing to or calling upon the lord Jesus and that is "prayer." This has been clearly understood by reputable scholars for centuries, as even cursory research will quickly reveal.

Often in the NT the believer calls on God or the Messiah, or the name of God – Yehovah or the name of the Messiah - Jesus, in prayer.

Note: Acts 7:59: And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”, as an example of this "calling upon" lord in "prayer". The directing of a prayer to Jesus is a mark of faith in him as 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 to the Messiah Jesus. Thus, the NIV was perfectly within its rights, according to accepted Greek usage, to translate this word as "prayer."

Jesus gives us an example that we should pray to our God and Father with thanksgiving and praise as our offering. However, there are times that we can call upon the one whom God – Yehovah has made lord over all!