Acts 7:60 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Kneeling, Stephen cried out for his killers to be forgiven, and then he fell asleep.
What Does Acts 7:60 Mean?
His last breath is intercession for his executioners, the very echo of Father, forgive them (Luke 23:34). Among those he prayed for stood Saul.
Then he fell asleep: the gentle word Scripture uses for the death of those who die in the Lord, a rest that waits for waking (John 11:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:14). Stephen dies like his Master, entrusting his spirit and forgiving his enemies. The first to die for the name of Jesus shows every generation how, and his prayer was answered in the man who became Paul.
Acts 7:60 in the Original Language
koimaomai (κοιμάομαι), 'fell asleep' -- the tender word Scripture uses for the death of the faithful, a sleep that looks toward waking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 7:60
What does Acts 7:60 mean?
Kneeling, Stephen cried out for his killers to be forgiven, and then he fell asleep.