What Does Acts 7:59 Mean in the King James?
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Stephen’s last words hold spirit and breath together in one word, then entrust both to Jesus.
THE MEANING
At the edge of death, life is something Stephen entrusts to Jesus, whom he addresses as Lord. The Greek word pneuma (πνεῦμα, breath and spirit) holds the body’s breath and inner life together. The stones remain in the verse; so does Stephen’s direct appeal.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that death leaves a person with nothing to say and no one to address: even under the stones, Stephen calls on Jesus and asks him to receive his spirit.
THE ROOT
πνεῦμα
pneuma
GROWS FROM
πνέω
pneō
to breathe, to blow
Pneuma (πνεῦμα, breath/spirit) belongs to the same word family as pnoē (πνοή, breath/blast) and the verb pneō (πνέω, breathe/blow). The English word “spirit” can sound separate from the body, but this family keeps the life in Stephen’s appeal joined to breath and wind.
ALSO GROWS
pneō: to breathe, to blow
πνέω
This verb names the action beneath pneuma, keeping breath within the word for spirit.
pnoē: breath, blast
πνοή
Acts 2:2 uses this related word for a rushing wind, showing how the same word family holds breath and wind together.
THE PATTERN
The breath that animates human life is held as something given by God and entrusted to God.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.THE THREAD
Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.The Greek wording of Psalm 31:5 uses pneuma (πνεῦμα, breath/spirit) for what the speaker entrusts to God, the same word Stephen uses. Stephen’s “receive my spirit” echoes that handover while addressing Jesus directly.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
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