John Calvin Commentary Acts 7:59

"And they stoned Stephen, calling upon [the Lord], and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." — Acts 7:59 (ASV)

And the witnesses. Luke signifies that even in that tumult they observed some show of judgment. This was not commanded in vain, that the witnesses should throw the first stone; because, since they must commit the murder with their own hands, many are held by a certain dread, who otherwise are less afraid to cut the throats of the innocent with perjury of the tongue.

But in the meantime, we gather how blind and mad the ungodliness of these witnesses was, who were not afraid to stain their bloody hands with the blood of an innocent, who had already committed murder with their tongues. When he says that their clothes were laid down at the feet of Saul, he shows that there was no hindrance in him, but that, being cast into a reprobate mind, he might have perished with the rest.

For who would not think that he was desperate, having infected his youth with such cruelty? Neither is his age mentioned to lessen his fault, as some unskilled men try to prove; for he was of such an age that lack of knowledge could in no way excuse him.

And Luke will soon declare that he was sent by the high priest to persecute the faithful. Therefore he was no child; he might well be counted a man. Why, then, is his youth mentioned? So that every person may consider what great harm he might have done in God’s Church, unless Christ had restrained him early.

And in that appears a most notable sign both of God’s power and also of His grace, in that He tamed a fierce and wild beast in its chief fury, even in a moment, and in that He exalted a miserable murderer so highly who through his wickedness was almost drowned in the deep pit of hell.

Calling on. Because he had uttered enough words before men, though in vain, he now turns to God for good reasons and arms himself with prayer to endure all things. For although we need to run to God’s help every minute during our whole warfare, we have the greatest need to call upon God in the last conflict, which is the hardest.

And Luke expresses again how furious and mad they were, because their cruelty was not calmed even when they saw the servant of Christ praying humbly. Furthermore, here a prayer of Stephen is set down, having two parts. In the first part, where he commends his spirit to Christ, he shows the constancy of his faith. In the other, where he prays for his enemies, he testifies his love towards men. Since the whole perfection of godliness consists of these two parts, we have in the death of Stephen a rare example of a godly and holy death. It is thought that he used many more words, but the substance tends to this end.

Lord Jesus. I have already said that this prayer was a witness of confidence. And surely, the courage and vehemence of Stephen were great, for when he saw the stones fly about his ears, with which he would soon be stoned, and when he heard cruel curses and reproaches against himself, he yet remained meekly steadfast upon the grace of Christ.

In the same way, the Lord will sometimes have His servants brought to nothing, as it were, so that their salvation may be the more wonderful. And let us define this salvation not by the understanding of our flesh, but by faith.

We see how Stephen does not rely on the judgment of the flesh but, rather, assuring himself even in utter destruction that he will be saved, suffers death with a quiet mind. For undoubtedly he was assured of this: our life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

Therefore, casting off all care of the body, he is content to commit his soul into the hands of Christ. For he could not pray thus from his heart unless, having forgotten this life, he had cast off all care for it.

It is fitting for us, with David (Psalms 31:6), to commit our souls into the hands of God daily as long as we are in the world, because we are surrounded by a thousand deaths, so that God may deliver our life from all dangers. But when we must indeed die, and are called to it, we must resort to this prayer: that Christ will receive our spirit.

For He commended His own spirit into the hands of His Father, so that He might keep ours forever. This is an inestimable comfort, in that we know our souls do not wander when they depart from our bodies, but that Christ receives them, so that He may keep them faithfully, if we commend them into His hands.

This hope ought to encourage us to suffer death patiently. Indeed, whoever commends his soul to Christ with an earnest affection of faith must indeed resign himself wholly to His pleasure and will.

And this passage plainly testifies that the soul of man is not a mere puff of air that vanishes, as some frantic people foolishly imagine, but that it is an essential spirit that lives on after this life.

Furthermore, we are taught by this that we call upon Christ rightly and lawfully, because all power has been given to Him by the Father for this purpose: that all people may commit themselves to His protection.