When it is said
No service sets it as a prayer to say. The Orthodox Church keeps St Stephen’s feast on 27 December, two days after Christmas.
Anyone may pray his words: the first at the hour of death, the second for those who persecute Christians or have hurt you.
Where it comes from
Author known
The first martyr
Stephen was one of seven men the church in Jerusalem chose to serve at its daily sharing of food. Acts calls him a man “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”. After he spoke before the Council in Jerusalem, they drove him out of the city and stoned him. As the stones fell he prayed these two prayers, and then he “fell asleep”.
Acts 6:3-5 and 7:54-60, Berean Standard Bible
The young man with the cloaks
The men who stoned Stephen laid their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul, who approved of the killing. That day a great persecution broke out, and the believers were scattered, preaching the word wherever they went. Saul became the apostle Paul. Years later he told the Lord he had stood by, approving, as Stephen’s blood was shed.
Acts 7:58, 8:1-4, 22:20 and 13:9, Berean Standard Bible
Remembered by the Church
The Orthodox calendar names him “the Apostle, Proto-martyr, and Archdeacon”. Proto-martyr means first martyr. When a bishop ordains a deacon, his prayer asks God to give the new deacon the grace He gave to Stephen, whom He called first to that work.
G. V. Shann, Euchology (1891), the calendar, 27 December; G. V. Shann, Book of Needs (1894), the ordination of a deacon
What the words mean
Like his Lord on the cross
Stephen’s two prayers echo the prayers of Jesus on the cross. Jesus said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit,” and Stephen, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him, and Stephen for those who stoned him. St John Chrysostom held up Stephen, “who is stoned, and entreating this sin may be forgiven them”, as an example for anyone who must forgive.
Luke 23:34 and 23:46, Berean Standard Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 61 on Matthew (English translation of 1888)
The Scripture in it
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Greek
Κύριε Ἰησοῦ, δέξαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου.
Κύριε, μὴ στήσῃς αὐτοῖς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ταύτην.
From the Acts of the Apostles in Greek (7:59-60), on Greek Wikisource.