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We had St. Stephen's prayer in the foregoing verse for himself: here in this verse he prays for his murderers.
Here note, 1. His pious charity in forgiving his enemies, and praying for them, that God would forgive them also; Lord, lay not this sin to their charge; How doth this holy martyr imitate his dying Saviour? Father, forgive them Luk_23:34.
Note, 2. His regular charity: his charity began at home; he prays first for himself, then for his murderers; first, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit; next, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.
Where remark, That Christ prayed first for his enemies, then for himself, Father forgive them: Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit Luk_23:35-36; but St. Stephen intercedes first for himself. The reason of the difference is this, Christ needed no prayer for himself, but Stephen did: We are to love our enemies as ourselves; but Christ loved his enemies above himself, and better than himself. Christ's love to his enemies was the copy and pattern, St. Stephen's but the transcript.
Note, 3. His holy fervency in prayer: he cried out with a loud voice, endeavouring by the cry of his prayers to drown the noise of the stones which rattled about his ears, and to divert that shower of vengeance form them, which their shower of stones upon him deservedly called for from heaven.
Note, 4. The holy martyr prayed for himself standing, but for his enemies kneeling. Act_7:59. He stood when he said, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit; but Act_7:60 when he said, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge, he kneeled down and cried. He was more importunate for his enemies, than he was for himself. How near did St. Stephen, the first martyr, come to his blessed Master Jesus Christ, in praying for his enemies?
Note, 5. The success and benefit of his prayer: God heard and answered Stephen's prayer in Paul's conversion, recorded in the ninth chapter. Si Stephanus no orasset, Ecclesia Paulum non habuisset, saith one of the ancients; "Saul's conversion was owing to St. Stephen's intercession."
Note, 6. The holy man's exit and happy conclusion. He fell asleep.
Where note, 1. The thing recorded of him is his death.
2. The metaphor which his death is set out by, and clothed with, and that is sleep.
3. The circumstance of time when he fell asleep, namely, after he had served Christ, and suffered for him.
Learn thence, That is is a blessed thing when death calls us off the stage of this world, after a life of service and suffering: When he had so said, he fell asleep.
Happy is that Christian who falls asleep with his Lord's work in his hand.