Did Stephen Pray to Jesus?

Many have alleged that Stephen prayed to Jesus in the book of Acts. Did he? Let’s look at some of the available evidence and use logic to discern what most likely occurred.

“They were stoning Stephen as he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” (Acts 7:59, Holman Christian Standard Version.)

The Greek word translated as “called out” in the HCSV and as “appealed” or even as “prayed” in other Bible’s is “ἐπικαλούμενονι” meaning: “(1) active, in speaking of a person call, name, give a surname (MT 10.25); passive be called, be named (AC 1.23); (2) passive with ὄνομα (name), idiomatically, denoting that one person belongs to another whose name is attached to him ἐπικαλεῖσθαι τὸ ὄνομά τινος ἐπί τινα literally have someone’s name called on someone, i.e. belong to, be the person of (AC 15.17); (3) middle, as a legal technical term for appealing to a higher court appeal, call or summon as witness (2C 1.23); (4) middle, as invoking God’s name in prayer call on (AC 2.21)” Friberg, Timothy ; Friberg, Barbara ; Miller, Neva F.: Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Books, 2000 (Baker's Greek New Testament Library 4), S. 164

Based on the lexical meaning of ‘epikalioumenoni’, we can see that the translations “call”, “appeal”, and even “pray” are all grammatical possible. Therefore the issue cannot truly be resolved on this ground alone. Though some translations, more than others, ought to be preferred. How do we know which is to be preferred and which not? A look at how this word has been used in other passages of the Bible, even more specifically, in other instances in the same book of the Bible should alleviate some of the issues at hand.

In Acts, Paul states,

If then I am in the wrong and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, but if not one of their charges against me is true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!"- Biblical Studies Press: The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2006; 2006, S. Ac 25:11

The same Greek term used in Acts 7:59 is used of Caesar (that is, the Roman emperor) by Paul! Surely no one would argue that Paul was saying he’d pray to Caesar, right?

But even with that being said, the issue is certainly more complex than that. The issue is to be found in verses 55 through 56 and even through 60. What occurred here is that Stephen had a vision in verse 55 where it is said he “gazed into heaven and caught sight of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand.” (NWT)

If it is the case that Stephen beheld this vision and maintained it right up to his death, this “appealing” in verse 59 is due to the fact that he sees Jesus in his vision, not that he’s praying to him! Indeed, it could be the case that Stephen is merely appealing to Jesus since he can see him directly (in his vision, of course).

However, some have suggested that Stephen’s vision ended in verse 57 and that therefore ‘epikalioumenoni” should be taken as a prayer in verse 59.

What it boils down to, then, is if the vision lasted all the way up to verse 60, that is, up to Stephen’s death then it was probably not a prayer. However, if the vision ended prior to his death (verse 57) then the chances are that it was a prayer.

It is sometimes amazing how something so subjective can make (or break) a doctrine.

Personally, though, I don’t find a good enough reason to believe that the vision ended in verse 57. The text in and of itself doesn’t say, suggest, or even imply that the vision ended, so why assume it did?

To reach a conclusion, then, I find it most appropriate to conclude that Stephen made an appeal to Jesus in a vision, not in prayer, in verse 59.

The Sharpest Rule

We have all heard about Granville Sharp's rule and its application or non-application of it in Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1, and in other texts which may or may not call Jesus "God (god)" directly.

A recent book has been published by Dr. Daniel B. Wallace on the subject defending "Sharp's Rule", or what he calls, the "Sharper Rule."

In response, Greg Stafford of Elihubooks has issued a review and critique of Dr. Wallace's past and present works on this issue. It's a new 30 page paper where he defends his view about the subject and introduces a new exception to "Sharp's Rule."

Luke 20:27-40

Luke 20:27-40) . . .However, some of the Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came up and questioned him, 28 saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote us, ‘If a man’s brother dies having a wife, but this one remained childless, his brother should take the wife and raise up offspring from her for his brother.’ 29 Accordingly there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless. 30 So the second, 31 and the third took her. Likewise even the seven: they did not leave children behind, but died off. 32 Lastly, the woman also died. 33 Consequently, in the resurrection, of which one of them does she become [the] wife? For the seven got her as wife.” 34 Jesus said to them: “The children of this system of things marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who have been counted worthy of gaining that system of things and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 In fact, neither can they die anymore, for they are like the angels, and they are God’s children by being children of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised up even Moses disclosed, in the account about the thornbush, when he calls Jehovah ‘the God of Abraham and God of Isaac and God of Jacob.’ 38 He is a God, not of the dead, but of the living, for they are all living to him.” 39 In response some of the scribes said: “Teacher, you spoke well.” 40 For no longer did they have the courage to ask him a single question.

The Sadducees proposed a question to Jesus: If a woman whom had married 7 times during her lifetime was resurrected, who would be her husband in the resurrection?

It’s apparent the Sadducees were intent in trying to trick Jesus by proposing him this question, but it's very interesting the responce Jesus gives. Jesus says that “those who have been counted worthy of gaining that system of things and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.”

Evidently, then, those whom inherit the earth as their eternal dwelling place will not be “given in marriage” nor will they “die anymore, for they [will be as] the angels.”

One final thing to note is that these who are to inherit “that system of things” weren't already considered God’s children, that is, they weren't spiritually adopted (i.e. born again). Indeed, for there are those whom are God's children (actually, "sons") because they've been baptized by God's holy spirit (Romans 8:14-16), but these ones here in Luke's account are only considered “God’s children by being children of the resurrection.”