Gospelimages is committed to share the Biblical message as widely as possible via paintings, but not for profit.
Via the webshop it is possible to purchase high quality reproductions printed on canvas (giclées) of the painting of your choice.
All royalty proceeds will be made available to GlobalRize, "reaching the world for Christ online".
www.globalrize.org You are now leaving this website.
Back to index
Download the image for free
The stoning of Stephen
Acts 7:59-60
And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep’.Full bible text
Acts 6 verses 7 to 15, 7 verses 54 to 60, 8 verse 1.
6 verse 7 ‘And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel’.
——————————(Speech of Stephen, Acts 7 verses 1 to 53)———————————
7 verse 54 ‘Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together[b] at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep’.
8 verse 1 ‘And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.’
6 verse 7 ‘And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel’.
——————————(Speech of Stephen, Acts 7 verses 1 to 53)———————————
7 verse 54 ‘Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together[b] at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep’.
8 verse 1 ‘And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.’
About this painting
Due to the preaching of the apostles, the first Christian community grows strongly. Stephen, one of the seven deacons, probably a Greek-speaking Jew, focuses his preaching mainly on the Greek-speaking Jews. Some of them resist and argue with him. They claim to have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words ‘against Moses and God.’ This causes a commotion. Stephen is brought before the Sanhedrin, and false witnesses accuse him of saying that Jesus would destroy the temple and change the law of Moses.
Stephen is allowed to defend himself and gives a long speech in which he shows from the Bible that:
-the Israelites repeatedly disobeyed God's law from the beginning,
-the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands.
-the Israelites resisted the Holy Spirit; killed the prophets.
Moreover, they betrayed and murdered the Righteous One (Jesus), of whom all the prophets spoke.
Then the council no longer tolerates Stephen's words, and without judging him they cast him out of the city. They kill him by stoning.
The witnesses who carry out the stoning lay their outer garments at Saul's feet.
Saul wholeheartedly agrees to Stephen's death. A short time later he will come to believe in Jesus himself.
Stephen dies -with a prayer on his lips- because of his faith in Jesus Christ.
His death shows similarities with that of Jesus:
-he was attacked despite his miracles.
-he was accused of blasphemy.
-he was judged unjustly.
-he prayed: 'receive my spirit'.
-he prayed for his murderers.
‘Remember the word that I said to you:
A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you’ John 15:20
The name Stephen means 'crown'.
‘Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life’ Revelation 2 verse 10.
Stephen is allowed to defend himself and gives a long speech in which he shows from the Bible that:
-the Israelites repeatedly disobeyed God's law from the beginning,
-the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands.
-the Israelites resisted the Holy Spirit; killed the prophets.
Moreover, they betrayed and murdered the Righteous One (Jesus), of whom all the prophets spoke.
Then the council no longer tolerates Stephen's words, and without judging him they cast him out of the city. They kill him by stoning.
The witnesses who carry out the stoning lay their outer garments at Saul's feet.
Saul wholeheartedly agrees to Stephen's death. A short time later he will come to believe in Jesus himself.
Stephen dies -with a prayer on his lips- because of his faith in Jesus Christ.
His death shows similarities with that of Jesus:
-he was attacked despite his miracles.
-he was accused of blasphemy.
-he was judged unjustly.
-he prayed: 'receive my spirit'.
-he prayed for his murderers.
‘Remember the word that I said to you:
A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you’ John 15:20
The name Stephen means 'crown'.
‘Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life’ Revelation 2 verse 10.