Acts 7:58-60

OUTSIDE THE CITY WALL. Acts 7:58-60.

58

and 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 they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 7:58-60 As full of rage as were these men, they would not break the tradition of the elders and stone a man inside the city gates. Stephen was cast out of the city, probably dragged hastily out by the very ones who sat as his judges. It was also a law that the witnesses against the man were to be the first to cast the stones at the condemned. The false witnesses surely took upon their hearts and souls a weighty responsibility when they accepted money to give a false testimony against this man.

Here outside the city wall these men must lay aside their outer garments and pick up stones to be the executioners of this innocent man.

In this account we have the first mention of Saul. The garments of the witnesses were laid at his feet. Whether he was a member of the Sanhedrin or just an observer we have no way of knowing. We do know that he was witnessing the death of Stephen with approval (Acts 8:4). It is difficult to find words to tell of the tragic, yet victorious death of this gallant young man. While the stones tore his flesh and bruised and broke his body, he cried out in imitation of his Master, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge, and Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

235.

What two customs were observed in the stoning of Stephen?