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.