Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice. “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died. Acts 7:58-60

Stoned unjustly for his Spirit filled words about the Israelites turning away from God and rejection of God’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ, the witnesses who were legally required to cast the first stones at the offender (Deut. 17:7) murder Stephen. Our hearts are filled with sadness as the first martyred believer is treated so cruelly. We may blame this on mob mentality or closed minds yet the Scripture alerts us that the stoning is a direct result of uncircumcised hearts and ears, rejection of the Holy Spirit.

Those on the council would not bow their necks to God’s yoke nor draw near to the Word of God. The miracle of extreme extraordinary assistance, like Ezekiel 8:1-4, lifts Stephen’s suffering to the throne of God as both Christ and God stand ready to receive him. Before any sentence is passed they rush at Stephen, laying their cloaks at the feet of Saul– Saul who Jesus would later knock off his high horse and speak redeeming Grace, this Saul who cannot guess right now that he too would be stoned for the same cause of Christ.

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” as Stephen prays aloud, worshipping Christ in the very manner in which Christ worshipped our Heavenly Father on the Cross. “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” as Stephen like Christ requests that our Heavenly Father continue to pursue the hearts of unbelievers even in the midst of their unrighteous unspeakable evil ways. Look to the Cross then also use, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” as the blessed Holy Spirit enables us to draw the lost ones to Christ in all ways we can and at all times we can.